Mic Check: The Soundtrack of Travel
Hey everyone, welcome back to Mic Check!
This week, we’re looking at how power is shifting, between East and West, between global brands and independents, and between hospitality tech and the humans behind it.
Across the Skift Podcast Network, the conversations get straight to the point: strategy, leadership, and the stories behind travel’s biggest headlines.
Let’s jump in.
🎧 This Week on the Pods
Fresh off Skift Global Forum East in Abu Dhabi, Sarah Kopit and Seth Borko unpack how the center of gravity in global tourism is moving eastward, and what that means for destinations across the Middle East and Asia.
They also share insights from Skift’s exclusive interview with New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who lays out his plans to boost tourism, tackle Airbnb regulation, and appoint a “tourism czar” ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The episode wraps with updates on Abu Dhabi’s aviation boom, Tripadvisor’s restructuring, and a “winner of the week” you probably didn’t see coming... pampered falcons.
What really happens when a boutique brand gets acquired by a global hotel company? Katie Cline sits down with Vicki Poulos , VP of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, to unpack how growth, scale, and authenticity can actually coexist.
Vicki shares how her Greek roots and time building Moxy Hotels at Marriott shaped her creative instincts, and how she’s now leading IHG’s most iconic lifestyle brands. It’s a real, thoughtful conversation about brand identity, leadership, and balancing professional ambition with personal life in an industry that never stops moving.
This week, Michael Goldin , Brandreth Canaley , and myself (Wil Slickers) were joined by Skift Senior Hospitality Reporter Sean O'Neill to discuss the breaking story of Marriott Bonvoy ending its licensing deal with Sonder, just hours before the company officially announced its shutdown.
The crew breaks down what this means for Sonder’s future, how Marriott is handling existing guests, and whether confidence in hotel-tech partnerships might shift after this fallout. It’s an inside look at a story that’s still unfolding in real time.
🎥 From the Screen & the Stage
At Skift Global Forum East, Muzzammil Ahussain , CEO of Almosafer (part of Seera Group), joins Rafat Ali for a powerful discussion on how AI is reshaping the traveler experience. From personalization to planning, they explore how technology is redefining what it means to deliver real hospitality at scale.
To see more exclusive sessions from Skift Global Forum East, log in with your Skift Pro Subscription or become a Pro Subscriber today.
That’s it for this week’s Mic Check.
Whether it’s leaders rethinking global strategy or hosts uncovering the stories behind the headlines, each episode this week reminds us that travel isn’t just changing — it’s realigning.
A quick thank you to our podcast partners at EF World Journeys and Lodgify for powering these conversations and we will see you next week!
— Wil Slickers Director of Video & Audio Strategy, Skift