Sean O'Neill

Sean O’Neill is Skift's senior hospitality editor, reporting on hotels. Send him news tips at [email protected]. He lives in Washington, D.C. Stop him before he starts another home improvement project.

Latest Stories

Hotels

Tommy Bahama Brings Beach Vibes to Its First Hotel

If you like to walk through the hotel lobby in your Hawaiian shirt and swim trunks, you might will feel self-conscious at The Ritz-Carlton. But maybe not at a Tommy Bahama property.

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago

Online Travel

Airbnb Fined for Misleading Australian Consumers

Airbnb will offer compensation worth about $154 per customer. Remember, Airbnb: That's $230 in Australian dollars.

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago

News Blog

U.S.’s National Travel and Tourism Office Names Deputy Assistant Secretary

Alex Lasry has been sworn in as the new deputy assistant secretary for travel and tourism at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Lasry oversees the National Travel and Tourism Office, in the International Trade Administration’s industry and analysis division in the Commerce Department. Lasry has begun to help lead the Biden-Harris Administration’s national travel and…

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago

Hotels

Choice Hotels Has Talked to Investors With 40% of Wyndham Shares

Wyndham didn't say it had returned to the deal talks with Choice Hotels last week, but Choice says it did. Choice is also wooing many of Wyndham's key investors. The saga is getting more intense.

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago

Tourism

Iceland Volcano Erupts With Minimal Tourism Impact

Today's podcast looks at Iceland's volcanic eruption, Uber's simplified expense reporting, and major aircraft orders.

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago

Hotels

Accor Faces ‘Junk Fee’ Suit

A junk fee reckoning is underway. Accor has joined Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt in changing their disclosure policies this year.

Sean O'Neill | 1 week ago

Hotels

Wyndham Tells Shareholders to Reject Choice’s Takeover Bid

How many times can Choice court Wyndham and Wyndham's management say no? We are destined to find out through 2024. If a merger does somehow happen, Wyndham's repeated claims that the deal would face antitrust scrutiny almost invites the scrutiny.

Sean O'Neill | 2 weeks ago

Hotels

Inside Minor Hotels’ Global Expansion

Minor Hotels has an aggressive growth strategy to expand by 2025. Details about the company's strategy reveal a lot about bigger-picture trends in the hotel sector.

Sean O'Neill | 2 weeks ago

Hotels

Hotel Brand Bloat: ‘A Shakeout Is Coming’

Many marketers design hotel brands to appeal more to hotel owners than travelers. One reason? Creating a new brand is easier than fixing an old one.

Sean O'Neill | 2 weeks ago

Hotels

Some Hotel Owners Balk at Proposed Choice-Wyndham Merger

Some franchisees are worried their revenue would fall after a Choice merger with Wyndham. But Choice Hotels says it has heard from franchisees who expect to see gains to their bottom line from the proposed deal. The debate rolls on.

Sean O'Neill | 2 weeks ago