Skift

Episode Notes Taylor Swift’s massive influence on U.S. culture and the economy isn’t slowing down anytime soon. And as her ongoing Eras Tour continues to pack stadiums and boost tourism worldwide, Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit explains why Swift might be the most powerful person in travel. Swift’s impact on the travel sector is vast, with major influence over tourism dollars, hospitality spending and the short-term rental market. Kopit notes that each Swift concert has the economic impact of the Super Bowl – and it’s not just once a year. U.S. cities hosting a Eras Tour concert have seen their monthly hotel room revenue jump more than 7% on average. In addition, one short-rental executive said the Eras Tour has been responsible for double-digit increases in occupancy and average daily rates. Skift Research estimates the tour generated an incremental $1.2 billion for the U.S. travel industry in 2023 across flights, hotels, short-term rentals and other expenditures. Next, Hilton is considering making acquisitions