Expedia CEO Kern Sees Strong Travel Demand

The transcript discusses the company's strategic approach to layoffs, highlighting their stability during COVID-19 compared to other tech companies. It explores growth opportunities, particularly in Asia, and emphasizes the importance of personalization and customer retention. The impact of economic factors like a strong dollar and geopolitical pressures on revenue is analyzed. The discussion also covers travel demand trends, with a focus on properties like Orbitz and Verbo. Finally, the transcript reviews January's growth and outlines future plans, including launching a new loyalty program.

What was the company's approach to headcount during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Focusing solely on remote work

• Laying off a significant number of employees

• Maintaining a stable or reduced headcount

• Aggressively hiring new staff

Which region is the company focusing on for geographical growth opportunities?

• Europe

• South America

• Asia

• Africa

What is the company's strategy in the US market?

• Focusing on low-value consumers

• Long-term customer retention

• Short-term customer acquisition

• Reducing marketing efforts

How has the strong dollar affected the company's revenue?

• No impact on revenue

• Caused a significant loss

• Increased revenue by 400 basis points

• Decreased revenue by 400 basis points

What has been the trend in travel demand despite inflation?

• Demand has shifted to local travel only

• Demand is unpredictable

• Demand remains strong

• Demand has decreased significantly

How has Verbo performed compared to pre-COVID levels?

• Significantly below pre-COVID levels

• Far above pre-COVID levels

• At the same level as pre-COVID

• Slightly below pre-COVID levels

What is the current trend in travel demand across different categories?

• Travel demand is decreasing overall

• Only home rentals are popular

• Hotels and resorts are catching up

• Vacation rentals are declining