💪 Booking CEO Shows No Fear

Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel but he believes any threat from hotels via ChatGPT is "overblown."

View in browser Unsubscribe Wednesday October 29, 2025 Good morning, readers. Booking Holdings isn't worried about any threats from hotels via GhatGPT. We examine how much investors would pay for an Ennismore IPO. And many air traffic controllers are under added stress after missing their first full paychecks during the government shutdown. Online Travel   Dennis Schaal Executive Editor Image by Skift Booking CEO on Threat From Hotels Via ChatGPT: 'Overblown' Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel acknowledged that hotels will leverage OpenAI and its peers to capture direct bookings, but he believes any threat from hotels via ChatGPT is "overblown." Fogel said that thinking companies can "just put up a name" and master the complexities of the travel industry is "a little naive." "And if it did work that way, we were anticipating a long time ago, Google would have taken this thing over a long time ago," Fogel said.  Fogel also said he liked Booking's positioning of being in the "first wave" of travel companies putting their apps into ChatGPT. Get The Full Story On Skift Event | October 29-30 Skift Global Forum East Begins Tonight Skift Global Forum East begins tonight in Abu Dhabi, kicking-off with the Opening Reception. The event spotlights how the Middle East is driving travel's future and shaping the industry's new power centers. Join leaders and innovators as they define the next chapter for global travel. GET THE LAST FEW REMAINING SEATS Hotels   Sean O'Neill Senior Hospitality Editor Image by Ennismore How Much Would Investors Pay for an Ennismore IPO? Accor said it might spin out Ennismore, the joint venture that houses its hippest properties, and we delve into how much investors might be willing to pay for the lifestyle brand in an IPO.  Demand for lifestyle hotels has been high among developers.  It's tough to arrive at a valuation for Ennismore based on other completed deals.  Analysts have estimated Ennismore's standalone valuation could land anywhere between $3.4 billion and $5.8 billion. Get The Full Story On Skift New Report Inside the Future of Luxury Travel Together With   Raffles + Travelzoo Seven industry leaders on the new meaning of luxury in 2025 Leaders say travelers seek emotion, privacy, and purpose over status Experience, authenticity, and wellness emerged as top themes Get the Free Report on Skift Airlines   Meghna Maharishi Airline Reporter Image by Department of Transportation Air Traffic Controllers Under Increasing Pressure Thousands of air traffic controllers are dealing with mounting stress, having missed their first full paychecks roughly a month into the government shutdown. Groups of air traffic controllers have recently staged demonstrations to raise awareness about the shutdown's impact on air travel and on their lives. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said paying air traffic controllers during the current shutdown would be "challenging." Duffy said 44% of delays reported on Sunday were a result of staffing shortages. Get The Full Story On Skift Editor's Picks   Rashaad Jorden Associate Editor/Archivist Airlines Bill Gates Rejects Climate 'Doomsday,' Calls for Aviation to Eliminate 'Green Premium'   Online Travel MakeMyTrip Swings to Quarterly Loss; How Indians Are Using its AI for Trip Planning   Airlines ITC Hotels Unveils New Premium Brand 'Epiq Collection' as It Shifts to Asset-Light Model   Hotels Mews Acquires AI Firm to Simplify Data Usage for Hotels Get More News On Skift   SKIFT PRO       With a subscription to Skift Pro, you get full access to the in-depth reporting, exclusive interviews, and breaking news that the Skift Editorial team produce – as well as the travel industry's premier AI answer engine and Skift Travel 200 stock index. SAVE 20% ON YOUR FIRST YEAR Defining the future of travel. Skift. 35 W 31st St., New York, NY, 10001, USA Follow Us: LinkedIn   |  X   |  Facebook   |  Whatsapp   |  Bluesky   |  Threads You received this because you are subscribed to Newsletter | The Daily from Skift. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.