Booking.com CEO on AI and the Future of Travel
Summary
Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, joins Juven to discuss his 27-year journey, from early tech roles to orchestrating major acquisitions like Kayak and OpenTable. He shares personal anecdotes on frugal travel habits, fitness, and how a failed novel led to his marriage. The conversation covers Booking’s shift to a merchant model, global payment complexities, and navigating EU regulations. Fogel also addresses the impact of geopolitical conflicts on travel and his vision for an AI-powered "Connected Trip" future.
Topics discussed
Intro: AI's potential and the human cost of employment
Glenn's background: Immigration and global talent
Life on the road: Travel, fitness, and hotel preferences
Business models: Merchant vs. Agency and global payments
CEO habits: Sleep, food, and using OpenTable
Early career: Wharton, Harvard Law, and investment banking
Writing a novel, meeting his wife, and leaving banking
Joining Priceline during the dot-com crash
Acquiring Booking.com, Agoda, Kayak, and OpenTable
EU regulations and the 'gatekeeper' designation
Impact of Middle East conflict and Russia-Ukraine war
The realities of being CEO: Security and scrutiny
Mission: Making travel easier with AI
AI's impact on workforce and upskilling employees
Grit: Overcoming a stroke and the value of perseverance
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