#SkiftRewind: Favorite Skift Global Forum Memories

I firmly believe that the best way to connect with a culture is by breaking bread with locals. As a digital nomad, I get the unique opportunity to visit places all around the world, and to stay longer than most vacationers. Eating out at restaurants is great, but in my experience, it’s in learning how to prepare local food that I come to fully understand its meaning. I took my first cooking class in Paris in 2021, shortly after I started traveling full-time, and have since made it a point to sign up for a class in most every place I visit long-term. I mainly find cooking classes through Airbnb Experiences or word of mouth.

After learning that travel-show host Rick Steves famously visits food markets almost everywhere he travels, I was inspired to do the same.

A veranda stateroom on Oceania Cruises' newest Vista vessel isn't cheap. But after spending one night in the room, I now see why travelers are paying at least $2,350 for a vacation in the floating hotel room this year.

As Global Entry becomes more and more popular, wait times to score the coveted popular time-saving tool is also increasing.Global Entry, offered by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), has become a must-have for millions of travelers looking to save time during the customs and re-entry process back into the United States. CBP shared the current wait times as being as long as 11 months in a July post about the program, citing “high demand and processing volumes” as the primary reason behind the delays. 

Skift Global Forum is the most anticipated event for the travel industry insiders and travel enthusiasts alike. It’s half thought leadership conference, half essential networking opportunity, and all around way to connect with the ideas and people who are defining the future of travel.

Next week will be our 10th annual Skift Global Forum, happening September 26-28, 2023 in New York City. After several years of recovery, it’s clear this year is finally a moment when the industry can finally look ahead to the long-term, while also adapting to a rapidly changing digital future that will be more autonomous and more connected than ever before in history. 

A new sea to table culinary program is coming aboard a fleet of luxury cruise shops.

It took me close to a year of living in Philadelphia to find a cheesesteak I really like. 

Global guests involved in mountain tourism and outdoor sports met in China’s mountainous rich Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture unveiled the 2023 International Conference of Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports, or MTOS, in Xingyi city on Saturday. This year’s meeting aims at exploring the deep integration of mountain tourism and multi-industries, promoting the high-quality development of mountain tourism, and providing high-quality tourism experiences for tourists.

My family has an unwavering love for Savannah, Georgia. 

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. 

Florence has been at the top of my travel bucket list for years, and this summer I finally crossed it off. It's since made its way to the top of another list of mine—my ranking of favorite cities. The food, the architecture, the rich history, and, of course, the gelato make it a city like no other. What I loved most about Florence was how surprisingly small it is—every restaurant, museum, and tourist attraction I hoped to visit was in walking distance of one another, which made seeing everything I possibly could see during my three-day stay doable. Hoping for an accommodation that was a little more homey and spacious than a hotel, my partner and I booked a gorgeous Airbnb with a private terrace in the heart of Florence.