Skift Global Forum 2025: Where the Power Players Take the Stage

The new age of travel is defined by perma-disruption and constant reinvention. The executives making the biggest bets and boldest moves are writing the industry’s future in real time.

At Skift Global Forum 2025, those leaders take the stage together. They rank among the highest in the Skift Power Rankings 2024 and 2025, and their decisions ripple across every sector: hospitality, online travel, cruises, investment, and beyond.

Skift Power Rankings spotlight authority in action. These executives hold the influence that drives global travel forward, and in 2025, they’ll share their vision with you directly.

Skift Power Rankings: #2 in 2024, #1 in 2025.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky claims the top spot in the 2025 Skift Power Rankings for a reason. His vision continues to redefine lodging and global travel experiences. In his session, “Building Airbnb’s Next Chapter,” Chesky will reveal how the home-sharing giant plans to navigate new horizons.

Skift Power Rankings: #4 in 2024.

Fogel runs the largest online travel empire, from Booking.com to Priceline, wielding unmatched reach in global distribution. His Forum session, “Travel’s Strength Amidst Great Change,” offers a front-row look at how the world’s biggest platform adapts to disruption.

Skift Power Rankings: #16 in 2024.

Gorin is pushing Expedia into a new era with tech-led personalization and a sharp focus on traveler loyalty. She’ll take the stage for “Staying Ahead in the AI Era” to show how data and machine learning are shaping the next phase of online travel.

Skift Power Rankings: #28 in 2024, #18 in 2025.

Agarwal scaled OYO into one of the largest hospitality networks worldwide, and he continues to expand into new markets with speed. His session, “India’s Global Impact,” highlights how the country’s travel growth story resonates far beyond its borders.

Power Rankings: #11 in 2025.

Resnick directs billions in hospitality and leisure investments, shaping the resort and hotel landscape for the next decade. In “Taking Stock of the Macro Trends and Travel’s Future,” he’ll map out where capital flows next and why it matters.

Skift Power Rankings: #30 in 2024.

Liberty oversees the world’s most ambitious cruise fleet expansion, balancing scale, design, and sustainability. His talk, “Redefining the Future of Vacations,” explores how cruise innovation is influencing the broader travel ecosystem.

Skift Power Rankings: #8 in 2024.

O’Hara’s investments steer airlines, tours, and tech. As one of the most influential dealmakers in global travel, his session “Ask Me Anything: AI, Trends, and Investing in Travel’s Future” is a rare chance to hear his candid take on what’s next.

Skift Power Rankings: #21 in 2024.

Thornton leads the world’s largest adventure travel company, setting the industry standard for sustainable exploration. His session, “Driving Change from Within: Creating a Better Future for Travel,” shows how purpose-driven leadership is reshaping the industry.

Skift Power Rankings: #27 in 2024.

Lefebvre d’Ovidio blends heritage and innovation in luxury travel, driving growth across cruise and hospitality. He’ll appear in “Travel Legends Unplugged,” an unfiltered conversation about legacy, leadership, and the next chapter of high-end travel.

Hospitality titans. Online travel disruptors. Cruise visionaries. Investment heavyweights. From Airbnb’s reimagination of lodging to Royal Caribbean’s reinvention of the seas, every sector of travel is represented. This is where trends take shape before they hit the headlines.

Attendees walk away with:

• Exclusive insight from the top-ranked executives in travel.
• Actionable strategies to navigate disruption and seize growth.
• A network of the most influential leaders shaping travel’s next era.

Skift Power Rankings validate influence. And, Skift Global Forum gives you direct access. Attendees do more than listen. They network, exchange ideas, and leave with strategies that matter.

The future of travel unfolds at Skift Global Forum 2025. Secure your place to witness the power, influence, and insight of the people redefining the industry.