GMH Hotels: Disney’s CEO Shift, Marriott’s AI Push & Ryanair Drama
Wed Feb 04 2026
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down the latest power shifts, brand battles, and cultural moments shaping travel and hospitality.
The discussion opens with The Walt Disney Company tapping parks chief Josh D’Amaro as CEO, signaling a growing emphasis on experiences, operations, and guest loyalty. Sarah and Steve then unpack Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano’s strategy—from midscale expansion and global growth to navigating AI disruption and defending premium brands.
They also examine whether independent boutique hotels can survive as corporate lifestyle brands scale the aesthetic, and what Accor’s ChatGPT integration says about the fight for early-stage travel discovery.
The episode wraps with a viral Ryanair fashion debate and this week’s Unhinged Story featuring a TikTok-famous in-flight moment that only travel could deliver.
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On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk break down the latest power shifts, brand battles, and cultural moments shaping travel and hospitality. The discussion opens with The Walt Disney Company tapping parks chief Josh D’Amaro as CEO, signaling a growing emphasis on experiences, operations, and guest loyalty. Sarah and Steve then unpack Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano’s strategy—from midscale expansion and global growth to navigating AI disruption and defending premium brands. They also examine whether independent boutique hotels can survive as corporate lifestyle brands scale the aesthetic, and what Accor’s ChatGPT integration says about the fight for early-stage travel discovery. The episode wraps with a viral Ryanair fashion debate and this week’s Unhinged Story featuring a TikTok-famous in-flight moment that only travel could deliver. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.