EXPLORE22: COVID catalyst for changed travel and business leadership
Peter Kern CEO Expedia Group - "I was never worried about travel coming back"
AccomNews talked to industry leader Peter Kern, Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Expedia Group about post-COVID leadership, travel, and the future of the sector at EXPLORE 22.
Peter Kern has served as Vice Chairman of Expedia Group since June 2018 and after decades in leadership roles in public and private settings, he describes the COVID pandemic as a heart-stopping moment that changed travel.
Although challenging, he says, the pandemic was also an opportunity to expand and evolve Expedia Group’s universe.
He explained that the group had identified issues that needed to be solved before COVID and his vision was to lead the way for change but when the pandemic hit, it was the perfect opportunity to gather a team, and focus to solve those issues.
This movement for change evolved into the new three-tier strategy debuted earlier this week at EXPLORE22 that promises to redefine Expedia Group’s place in travel, including a new technology platform to power the industry called Expedia Group Open World.
The reimagined marketplace rewards partners for delivering great travel experiences, with a focus on developing traveler technology that provides the right information to increase booking confidence. The group has been also able to reorganise all of its brands into one ‘Marvel Universe’ by rebuilding, and restructuring a new technology platform, marketplace, and traveller benefits.
The platform has grown its reach and promises to ensure a better end-to-end experience for both travellers and partners.
COVID caused massive challenges for the industry but Kern says “I was never worried about travel coming back” but it prompted change for Expedia Group and he also says his leadership style changed.
He says COVID provided the opportunity for more face-to-face personal time with the Expedia Group team, and effective communication was productive and inspiring. He says this has been valuable because the team worked well together, and inspired each other to rebuild the new platform and marketplace unveiled this week.
He is excited for the future of travel and how Expedia Group’s new platform will grow and evolve.
Peter Kern is Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Expedia Group.
He has been a director of Expedia Group since the completion of the IAC/Expedia Group Spin-Off and has served as Vice Chairman of Expedia Group since June 2018. He has spent decades in leadership roles in public and private settings. Previously, he was CEO of Tribune Media and Managing Partner of InterMedia Partners VII, LP, a private equity firm. Prior to joining InterMedia, he was Senior Managing Director and Principal of Alpine Capital LLC. Prior to Alpine Capital, He founded Gemini Associates in 1996 and served as President from its inception through its merger with Alpine Capital in 2001. He also serves on the boards of several private companies.
Mandy has over 17 years of accommodation and tourism industry writing experience and is Editor of AccomNews & Resort News, Publisher of SchoolNews & Director of Multimedia Pty Ltd. She is a retired registered nurse with a 25-year NHS career that followed a few unforgettable years in hotel housekeeping.
