#282: Uber Partners with Expedia, Spirit Shuts Down, Hotels Prepare for AI | Hot Topics with Tom Luersen

What should hoteliers be doing right now to stay ahead of these rapid changes? 

In this episode, hosts Steve Carran and David Millili are joined by Tom Luersen, President of CoralTree Hospitality, for a fast-paced breakdown of the biggest hospitality and travel industry developments from May.

The conversation dives into major shifts in the tech and distribution landscape, including new partnerships like Uber with Expedia and Mews, Airbnb expanding into hotels and car rentals, and the rise of TikTok as a hotel booking channel. The panel explores what these changes mean for hotels, direct bookings, and the future of distribution strategy.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

•  What growing tech consolidation means for hotels, pricing power, and direct bookings 
•  Why the collapse of Spirit Airlines signals deeper trends in airline consolidation and pricing pressure 
•  How rising travel costs are influencing consumer behavior—but not stopping summer travel plans 
•  Why experience-driven travel continues to dominate consumer priorities across generations

This episode is a must-listen for hospitality leaders looking to understand where travel, technology, and consumer behavior are heading next—and how to stay ahead in an increasingly connected and competitive landscape.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c9CqYWcsMRQ

Links:
Consumer Tech Partners with Travel & Hospitality
Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations
Americans are Cutting Costs, but Not Their Travel Plans
Hotel Execs Prepare for AI to Change the Booking Journey
What is New at CoralTree

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/282

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Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.