Can’t Miss Speakers at Skift Global Forum 2023

The much-anticipated opening reception for Skift Global Forum, presented by Turkish Airlines, is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable. On September 26, from 6 to 8 P.M., industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts will gather at the North Javits Center for an evening of networking, knowledge-sharing, and inspiration while enjoying delicious drinks and hors d’oeuvres. 

Over 300 leading companies already plan to attend Skift Global Forum 2023 on September 26-28 in New York City. This includes companies like Marriott, Disney, Accor, Google, Netflix, Hilton, Amazon, Thayer Ventures, Highgate, and U.S. Travel just to name a few.

Our largest Skift Global Forum to date is officially one month away and we can hardly believe it. Here is what you can look forward to this year:

Skift is gathering travel leaders from across the globe in Dubai this December to look at the larger context of travel in the Middle East and what lies ahead for this important region. We’re putting the latest trends and strategies for lodging, destinations, online travel, and consumers under a microscope with some of the best and brightest minds in the industry. 

Over 200 leading companies are attending the Skift Aviation Forum this week at the historic Statler Hotel in Downtown Dallas on November 16. This includes companies like Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines, and Sun Country, just to name a few. 

Skift Global Forum Eastwill gather the top CEOs and travel industry leaders to the heart of the Middle East in Dubai, from Dec. 13-15 for three days of sessions, panels and networking opportunities. The Forum will look at the future of travel in the dynamic and growing Middle East and Asian regions, pull apart recent trends and discuss what they mean for the growth and future of the multi-faceted region. 

For the past decade, tens of thousands of travel leaders from over 70+ countries around the world have joined Skift in New York City to discover what comes next for the world’s most impactful industry at Skift Global Forum. This year will be no different – except, of course, bigger and better than ever before.

As 2022 comes to a close and we look ahead to 2023 as an industry, it is an important time for travel as we launch our first Skift Global Forum East December 13-15 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. 

We are officially one week out for the first-ever in-person Skift Global Forum East, where travel leaders from across the region will be gathering at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre in Dubai on December 13-15.

Dubai will play an outsized role in the United Arab Emirates aim to attract 40 million visitors annually by 2031, so what can it do to improve its tourism industry? Four panelists — Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths, Kerzner International CEO Philippe Zuber, Emirates Airline Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim, and Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing CEO Issam Kazim — discussed at the recent Skift Global Forum East in Dubai what local tourism officials need to do to continue to attract visitors.

Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta considers himself amazed at level of growth he’s seen in the Middle East’s hotel industry during his roughly 40-year career. Nassetta described the commitment officials in the region have made to travel and tourism as extraordinary during his appearance at the recent Skift Global Forum East in Dubai, adding he views Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as markets for significant growth.

Taking advantage of long-term trends that may boost hotel pricing power, driving more earnings per square meter at a hotel with concepts like “hybrid hospitality,” and exploring the potential of generative artificial intelligence are all potential areas of upheaval for hotel investors, owners, asset managers, and corporate brands.