Expedia Group CEO Interview: Our Tech Was an Anchor Thwarting Innovation
Skift Take
In years past, Expedia has often talked about integrating its tech platforms or leveraging its massive data trove. Will it actually spur innovation this time around?
Dennis' Online Travel Briefing
Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, Executive Editor and online travel rockstar Dennis Schaal will bring readers exclusive reporting and insight into the business of online travel and digital booking, and how this sector has an impact across the travel industry.Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern thinks Google's vacation rental metasearch offering won't work because the big partners, such as Expedia/Vrbo and Airbnb have opted out, and he believes that Expedia's legacy technology held back innovation over the years.
These were among the points that Kern made during a Skift interview at Expedia's partner conference in Las Vegas last week.
When it comes to innovation, Kern argued that competitors have likewise not been innovative, and all have done much to program travelers to look for low prices instead of more value.
The interview, which has been edited for length and grammar, follows:
Dennis Schaal: I have a friend, who's pretty smart. She said to me, "Expedia is your grandmother's or grandfather's online travel agency. What have they really done in recent years that's innovative?" And to that, you would say?Peter Kern: It's hard to be super innovative when everything takes
