Robin Gilbert-Jones

Senior Research Analyst

Covers Hospitality, Sustainability, Travel Experiences

Robin has authored and contributed to a range of Skift Research reports and analysis centered on hospitality, sustainability, and travel experiences. He produces deep-dive content examining the hotel sector and ESG considerations across various travel verticals, helping travelers and industry stakeholders understand the evolving landscape of sustainable tourism.

Prior to Skift, Robin worked as a freelance travel researcher and ESG (environmental, social, governance) consultant. He also co-founded Vukani Impact Collective, an ESG and Impact consultancy. Robin holds a Master's Degree in Global and Comparative Politics from Queen Mary University of London.

Areas of Research

Robin is well versed in the sustainability trends shaping the global travel industry. His expertise in ESG frameworks and hospitality operations enables him to research and analyze the unique opportunities and challenges facing hotels, experience providers, and destinations as they navigate the transition toward more sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

How Authentic Experiences Shape the New Tourism Economy

The tours and experiences space is rapidly evolving in an altered post-COVID-19 market, driven by desires for authenticity, immersion, and “experiencing like a local”. Not only is this a major opportunity for tour operators and travel agents, but experiences also drive extension of trips, presenting opportunities for the accommodation and other travel sub-sectors as well.

Carbon Offsets: Fact from Fiction

Carbon offsets exist within a flawed ecosystem but with the current challenges of decarbonizing the aviation industry, they should not be disregarded as an interim measure in the journey towards decarbonization. It is incumbent on the industry themselves to reform a broken system.

Regenerative Tourism: Fact From Fiction

Regenerative tourism represents an opportunity for the industry to respond to clear market demand and develop new approaches to sustainability and innovative business models. But it suffers from a lack of defined methodologies and defensible data and risks being a distraction from the core mission of climate action.