Episode Details

Hotels and OTAs have been battling over direct bookings for a decade — here's who's actually winning, Marriott just struck a deal that signals hotels are serious about selling more than just rooms, and two major hotel tech companies are joining forces to fix the data problem standing in the way of AI.

On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why hotels won the economics of the OTA war but may be about to lose their front doors to AI entirely, how Marriott's ResortPass deal reflects a growing push to turn empty pool chairs and spa slots into high-margin revenue, and why the Mews and SiteMinder integration is the unglamorous foundation hotels need before AI can actually take over.

Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG

Direct Booking Tug-of-War: Hotels' Long Bid to Take Back Power

Marriott Signs ResortPass Deal. Why Hotels Are Pushing to Sell More Than Rooms.

Mews and SiteMinder to Put Hotel Distribution, Operations Under One Roof — Exclusive

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