True Travellers Society: Todays Headlines for Your Ears
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Why it will be easier to get to glamorous Sardinia next year
Delta is launching a seasonal nonstop from New York to Olbia starting May 20, 2026, after SkyMiles members and employees picked Sardinia and Malta in the airlines Route Race vote. The move follows rising U.S. demand (up 36% year over year) and a luxury hotel boom, with Rocco Forte and Mandarin Oriental set to open on the Costa Smeralda and Cheval Blanc rebranding the historic Pitrizza in 2026. For travelers, it means easier access to Sardinias beaches, sailing, and archaeological sites, plus more high-end stays.
Cloudbeds partners with h2c on landmark global study of AI & automation in hospitality
AI is gaining ground in hospitality: 78% of hotel chains already use it and 89% plan to expand in the next 12 24 months, yet only 6% have a comprehensive strategy. Biggest hurdles are lack of expertise, unclear roadmaps, and integration pain, while business intelligence and guest communications deliver the most value today. The takeaway for hoteliers: prioritize data integration and clear use cases (personalization and upselling) to translate AI into revenue and better guest experiences.
How mixing tradition and tech is shaping the future of Sacher Hotels
Sacher Hotels CEO Matthias Winkler makes the case for using technology as a tool for transformation without sacrificing brand soul and authenticity. His guidance for hoteliers: move at the speed of change, deploy tech to deepen guest relationships, and let culture and uniqueness steer the roadmap.
Introducing the Skift Meetings Power Rankings
Read the full list and methodology
Skift Meetings spotlights the 15 most powerful people in events based on business impact, innovation, and industry influence a whos who shaping how global gatherings are imagined and executed. Leaders like Informas Stephen A. Carter and RXs Hugh Jones stand out for bold bets on AI and data, while others push sustainability, DEI, and hybrid models from the C-suite. Its a timely snapshot of where agenda-setting power really lives in the events ecosystem.
Skift Meetings guide to getting around IMEX
IMEX America 2025 runs October 79 at Mandalay Bay, with Smart Monday education on October 6 and this guide lays out how to maximize meetings, education, and networking. Top hacks: book appointments in advance and by neighborhood, pace your social calendar, use lounges, and leverage the quieter final day. Skift Meetings is also hosting an AI Innovation Lab and multiple sessions onsite for planners chasing impact.
Wild dogs follow familiar routes when traveling, unlike free-spirited wild cats that explore new places
A PNAS study tracking 1,239 carnivores across 34 species found a fundamental split in navigation: canids (wolves, foxes, coyotes) rely on established travel highways, while felids (lions, leopards, bobcats) roam more freely. The route-based behavior may be tied to canids superior sense of smell and has real conservation implications, from wildlife corridor design to mitigating road and snare risks. Understanding these patterns can help reduce human-wildlife conflicts and keep migration pathways intact.
Review: Ride1Ups Revv1 DRT e-bike is a rugged off-roader with plenty of suspension and hidden punch
Ride1Ups Revv1 DRT packs a 1,000W Bafang rear hub motor, 52V/20Ah battery, robust front/rear suspension, and unlockable speeds above 28 mph for serious off-road fun. Stable handling, strong 4-piston hydraulic brakes, and 2095 off-road tires make it trail-ready, though its 91 lb weight and cadence-based PAS mean its happiest on electric power. MSRP is $2,595, with frequent promotional discounts expected around holiday season.
Lee Miller: From surrealist muse to war photographer
Tate Britain opens the largest UK retrospective of Lee Miller (Oct 2, 2025 Feb 15, 2026), tracing her arc from Man Ray collaborator to groundbreaking WWII photojournalist. Iconic images including her famed woman in Hitlers bathtub photo reveal a surrealists eye applied to stark frontline realities. The show underscores Millers lasting influence on art, reportage, and how we see history.
How Toronto forgets its history (again)
Torontos rebuilt North St. Lawrence Market opened without meaningful interpretation of the sites 200+ years of civic history, save for a small, hard-to-see fragment of an 1832 butchers drain. The piece argues the city forgot to remember value-engineering out heritage storytelling and missing a major placemaking opportunity in a top tourist district. The call to action: own the lapse and embed robust, accessible heritage into the building experience.
