Sefton Monk is a British tech guru and CEO of the world's first fully bookable cruise app, My Kind of Cruise, with over 125,000 downloads and an average customer age of 38.
09.02.2024 - 17:15 / skift.com / Dennis Schaal / Peter Kern / Ariane Gorin
In a letter to employees — obtained by Skift — after the news broke that he’d be stepping down in May, Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern said there were times when he wasn’t sure whether the multiyear reorganization of the company was going deep or fast enough.
During his four-year reign as CEO of Expedia Group, Peter Kern, led a major revamping of the company, pruning far-flung brands around the world, introducing big technology changes, consolidating marketing teams that sometimes worked at cross-purposes, and launching a revamped loyalty program.
Kern also guided the company through the pandemic.
Here’s the company letter that Kern sent to Expedia Group employees around the world after market close in New York:
Team,
As you will have just seen in our earnings day press releases there is some big news that may have come as a surprise. Yes, thanks to all of you and your hard work, I will be stepping down at the end of my contract and handing the reigns to Ariane in the middle of May. I say thanks to you because it was always the plan (hope) that I would be able to shepherd this transformation through within my four years and set up the team to carry on. To be honest, I had my moments when I wasn’t sure we would get far enough fast enough, but as we continued to accelerate through last year and into this year, I realized we had in fact made it. Now, I’ll be the first to say that we are never done, and even within the bounds of our transformation we still have plenty of finishing work to do. But the biggest hurdles are behind us, the work is accelerating and I am confident we will only get better and faster from here.
When I started here, I didn’t know exactly what I’d be getting into or even that we would take on such a dramatic and bold transformation. And once we had, I honestly didn’t know how long it would take us to get it done. I shared that you had a special opportunity to work at a large company with the willingness to transform, to disrupt, to do the hard stuff it takes to rewrite the future of a mature enterprise. That one day you would look back and, despite the hard work, be grateful that you got to work here during such an important time in the company’s history. I for one, feel that way.
Tomorrow, I’ll share more about how much of a distinct pleasure it has been to be on this journey with all of you. I’m grateful that I’ll leave Expedia in the hands of such a capable team, which I helped build and has my utmost confidence. Ariane and I will work closely on the transition to make sure this is as seamless as possible. To be clear, this is certainly no excuse to take your eyes off the prize – we have a lot of work to do in 2024. I plan to be sprinting through the tape at the end of my term,
Sefton Monk is a British tech guru and CEO of the world's first fully bookable cruise app, My Kind of Cruise, with over 125,000 downloads and an average customer age of 38.
As Black History Month draws to a close, the Negro Motorist Green Book Exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum is still going strong and open to the public. Featuring a carefully curated selection of artifacts and narratives relating to the famous ‘Green Book’ guide, the showcase is a treasure trove of mid-century American culture. Having partnered with the Smithsonian to bring the show to life, the museum delves into history in an exciting departure from its usual exhibition schedule.
Expedia is cutting nine percent of its workforce, about 1,500 jobs, as it begins preparing for a new CEO and a year with moderate revenue as air prices are predicted to drop.
Expedia Group announced late Monday that it began notifying 1,500 employees that they would be laid off “in light of the Company’s organizational and technological transformation.”
Looking for a new read to tide you over until your next vacation? Pick up one of these Nordic noir hits and be whisked away to Norway, where you’ll find Norwegian authors all too keen to lift the lid on the darker side of Scandinavian society.
Paul Griffiths is in the hospitality business. Only, he’s not a hotelier or restaurateur. He’s the CEO of Dubai Airports.
The natural world continues to inspire travel writers. Standout books for the year ahead include a collection of stories, illustrations and poems that explore our connection with nature, plus a travelogue inspiring us to discover the small green spaces on our doorstep. Walking remains a popular topic for authors, as evidenced by a pair of upcoming travelogues that hit the trail in rural Spain and Istanbul, respectively, plus a collection of literary works that asks the question: why explore on foot? And to celebrate Bradt Travel Guides reaching its 50th anniversary this year, founder Hilary Bradt is set to release a memoir about her pioneering journeys both in print and around the lesser-explored corners of the planet.
Expedia Group has pulled a Vrbo ad in Canada because its use of a traditional Newfoundland and Labrador folksong triggered a backlash.
Expedia Group frequently talks up the benefits of its sale of corporate travel agency Egencia to American Express Global Business Travel. Benefits include: A 10-year pact to supply Amex GBT with lodging inventory, and Expedia’s equity stake in it, initially valued in 2021 at $815 million.
This year’s hotspots are looking a whole lot cooler with the rise of Northern Lights tourism, spurred by reports that the astronomical phenomenon will be extraordinarily visible in 2024. According to a survey commissioned by Expedia®, nearly half (42%) of Americans will prioritize aurora chasing in the year ahead over other bucket list experiences. Traveling to see the Northern Lights is more in-demand than a visit to Egypt’s pyramids (36%) or a walk along the Great Wall of China (33%). Expedia searches are skyrocketing for winter trips to Northern Lights “capitals” like Lapland in Finland (+370%), Canada’s Churchill (110%) and Alta in Norway (+100%). To help travelers plan, Expedia has released a Northern Lights Insider Guide packed with insights on trending destinations, booking hacks, photography tips and ideal itineraries.
In December 2019, Ariane Gorin, president of Expedia Business Services, moderated a fireside chat with Chairman Barry Diller and Vice Chairman Peter Kern at an all-hands employee meeting. Expedia Group had just parted ways with its CEO and CFO, and Kern would soon be named CEO.
IHG Hotels & Resorts ended 2023 with plenty to brag about — roaringly successful openings for its Regent brand in the south of France and Hong Kong, a planned refresh of the storied InterContinental brand, and a hefty pipeline of new hotels to add to its ultraluxury Six Senses brand.