Skift


Skift, Inc. is a media company founded in 2012 that provides news, research, and marketing services for the travel industry. It was founded by Rafat Ali and Jason Clampet.
The name Skift, which means "shift" or "transformation" in Nordic languages, was chosen by Ali and Clampet to highlight the ongoing changes in the future of travel.

Background

In July 2012, Rafat Ali founded Skift and assumed the role of CEO. Co-founder Jason Clampet, formerly of Frommer's, joined as Skift's head of content. For its launch, Skift raised about $500,000 in funding from investors, including L. Gordon Crovitz, Craig Forman, Jim Friedlich, Tom Glocer, Vishal Gondal, Jason Hirschhorn. In May 2013, Skift announced that it raised an additional $1.1 million in seed financing from a group of investors led by Lerer Ventures.
Skift's revenue comes from three main sources: branded content, subscriptions, and a series of global events - of which the flagship is the Skift Global Forum held annually in New York.

Skift.com

Skift.com offers reporting and analysis on the travel industry.
Clampet is editor-in-chief of the website. overseeing editorial content for Skift's seven subscriber-based newsletters.

Research and advertising

Skift produces twice-monthly reports, analyst calls, and data sheets on travel trends aimed at professionals in the travel industry, which are available by paid subscription.
The New York Times, CNBC, and The Verge have cited Skift studies in their reporting.
In January 2015, Skift launched a print magazine, Skift Megatrends, built around the company's annual travel trend forecast.
SkiftX is Skift's advertising and branded content studio. As of 2015, 30 percent of Skift's business came from SkiftX, which has created microsites, videos, and custom trend reports for companies within the travel industry.

Conferences

Since 2014, Skift has held its annual Skift Global Forum in New York City to discuss the future of travel with the executives of the travel industry.
On April 4, 2017, Skift held its first "Skift Forum Europe" in London.