Glenn Fogel, the CEO of Booking Holdings and its subsidiary Booking.com, is planning a trip to Europe during the summer. His itinerary includes flying to Amsterdam to meet his wife and then spending the weekend in Belgium. However, his visit to Brussels is not just for leisure. Booking.com is currently in negotiations with the European Commission regarding its planned acquisition of Etraveli, a Swedish online flight-booking company. The commission is considering categorizing Booking.com as a “gatekeeper” of the internet, which would subject it to new regulations aimed at controlling Big Tech.
Fogel finds himself in a delicate situation. On one hand, he wants to expand Booking.com and make it even more technologically advanced. On the other hand, he vehemently argues that his company is just one small player in the vast travel industry. He emphasizes the need to fight for the best interests of consumers and travel suppliers to stay competitive.
One of Booking.com’s current challenges is resolving payment delays for some hosts in the UK. The company attributes the delays to planned system maintenance and assures that payments are nearly complete. Fogel’s leadership style is influenced by his experience overcoming adversity at a young age when he suffered a stroke. He approaches each day with determination and begins with a morning exercise routine, making sure the hotels listed on Booking.com have great gyms.
Fogel’s purpose as CEO is to make it easier for people around the world to experience the world through travel. He joined Priceline, which later became Booking Holdings, in 2000, just before the burst of the dotcom bubble. Despite the challenging timing, he played a key role in transforming the company into a diverse internet platform owner, expanding beyond its original US discount travel platform. Booking.com remains the primary contributor to the company’s overall revenue, accounting for 80 to 90 percent of the business.
As Booking.com expands, it faces competition from major technology companies. Fogel hopes that the European Commission will recognize that the company does not warrant the same regulatory constraints as Big Tech. Booking.com is focused on rapid growth through technology, with plans to leverage artificial intelligence to enhance the customer experience. The company is rolling out beta versions of trip planners using Google AI tools, aiming to provide a comprehensive travel solution for customers.
Fogel acknowledges the potential impact of AI on the company’s workforce, having had to make difficult decisions regarding employee layoffs during the pandemic. He understands the personal toll of job loss and recognizes his responsibility as CEO to support staff through retraining and adaptation to new technologies.
In summary, Glenn Fogel, the CEO of Booking.com, is embarking on a trip to Europe with business and leisure purposes. The company is navigating negotiations with the European Commission and striving to stay competitive in the travel industry. Fogel’s leadership is grounded in resilience, and he is committed to making travel accessible and convenient for people worldwide.
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