After 26 years with the company and 10 as CEO, Priceline recently announced that Brett Keller would hand over the reins to Brigit Zimmerman in January.

In an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Keller reflected on his time at the OTA, where he has held several roles including CMO and COO.

His best advice for his successor was to surround herself with the best possible team and be sure to retain them, pointing to the longevity of Booking Holdings leadership team.

After 26 years with the company and 10 as CEO, Priceline recently announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phocuswire.com/priceline-ceo-brett-keller-retire" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5cadecf187056a000ef37147">Brett Keller would hand over the reins to Brigit Zimmerman</a>&nbsp;in January.
In an interview in the PhocusWire studio<a href="https://phocuswright.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5cadecf187056a000ef37147"></a>, Keller reflected on his time at the OTA, where he has held several roles including CMO and COO.
His best advice for his successor was to surround herself with the best possible team and be sure to retain them, pointing to the longevity of Booking Holdings leadership team.

A regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

A regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

In Phocus is a regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

In Phocus

In an interview in the PhocusWire studio, Keller reflected on his time at the OTA, where he has held several roles including CMO and COO.

Priceline CEO Brett Keller reflects on 26 years at the OTA and industry evolution

While artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting travel marketing, the best use cases are still being determined.

AI-supported digital travel marketing can work—as long as it still has a human touch, according to Rob Torres, SVP of media solutions and retail partnerships for Expedia Group.

In October, Expedia Group released research that examined what content is driving traveler choice. The company showed participants a mix of non-AI-enhanced, AI-enhanced and fully AI content.

“A good percentage of the travelers really didn't mind, and actually, I don't want to say they preferred [it], but they did not mind the AI-enhanced content as long as it did have some human touch in it as well,” Torres said during an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference.

As responses were positive, Expedia Group determined that content creation could benefit from some level of AI implementation.

While artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phocuswire.com/phocuswright-new-agents-trend-series-travel-marketing-ai-search">travel marketing</a>, the best use cases are still being determined.
AI-supported digital travel marketing can work&mdash;as long as it still has a human touch, according to Rob Torres, SVP of media solutions and retail partnerships for&nbsp;<a href="https://expediagroup.com/">Expedia Group</a>.
In October, Expedia Group&nbsp;<a href="https://partner.expediagroup.com/en-us/resources/blog/crack-code-on-travel-content-science-of-wanderlust">released research</a>&nbsp;that examined what content is driving traveler choice. The company showed participants a mix of non-AI-enhanced, AI-enhanced and fully AI content.
&ldquo;A good percentage of the travelers really didn't mind, and actually, I don't want to say they preferred [it], but they did not mind the AI-enhanced content as long as it did have some human touch in it as well,&rdquo; Torres said during an interview in the PhocusWire studio at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phocuswrightconference.com/">The Phocuswright Conference</a>.
As responses were positive, Expedia Group determined that content creation could benefit from some level of AI implementation.

Rob Torres, SVP of media solutions and retail partnerships at Expedia Group, discusses AI, social-led travel discovery and more in an interview with PhocusWire executive editor Linda Fox.

How Expedia Group believes AI can improve digital travel marketing

Within the vacation rental industry, opportunity abounds as operators lean into consolidation and professionalization.

During an interview in the PhocusWire studio at The Phocuswright Conference last week, Sharad Sunderesan, founder and CEO of Homescreen, and Eric Goldreyer, CEO of Savvy, shared their thoughts on these trends.

“You’ll see consolidation bring about that degree of consistency across the board, which helps with dealing with those increased guest expectations,” Sundaresan said.

According to Goldreyer, short-term rental (STR) guests also want standardization, but, more importantly, they want to forego travel anxiety and have a reliable point of contact if something goes wrong.

“They want a professional. They want someone that they can call,” he said. “If you’re in a vacation rental, you’re taking a group, and there’s higher pain points. You want to make sure that you can minimize those to the best of your ability.”

Conversation shifted to artificial intelligence and how it may address significant challenges such as persistent manual processes and fragmentation.

Within the vacation rental industry, opportunity abounds as operators lean into consolidation and professionalization.
During an interview&nbsp;in&nbsp;the PhocusWire studio at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phocuswrightconference.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5cadecf187056a000ef37147">The Phocuswright Conference</a>&nbsp;last week, Sharad Sunderesan,&nbsp;founder and CEO&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://homescreen-ai.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5cadecf187056a000ef37147">Homescreen</a>, and Eric&nbsp;Goldreyer,&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.savvy.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5cadecf187056a000ef37147">Savvy</a>, shared their thoughts on these trends.
&ldquo;You&rsquo;ll see&nbsp;consolidation&nbsp;bring about that degree of consistency across the board, which helps with&nbsp;dealing with&nbsp;those increased guest expectations,&rdquo;&nbsp;Sundaresan said.
According to&nbsp;Goldreyer,&nbsp;short-term rental (STR)&nbsp;guests also want standardization, but, more importantly, they want to forego travel anxiety and&nbsp;have a reliable point of contact if something goes wrong.
&ldquo;They want a professional. They want someone that they can call,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;in a vacation rental,&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;taking a group, and there&rsquo;s higher pain points. You want to make sure that you can&nbsp;minimize&nbsp;those to the best of your ability.&rdquo;
Conversation shifted to artificial intelligence and how it may address significant challenges such as persistent manual processes and&nbsp;fragmentation.

Within the vacation rental industry, opportunity abounds as operators lean into consolidation and professionalization.

Vacation rentals in a spin: Outlining trends, changes and the future of short-term rentals

Cryptocurrency is carving out a role in travel—from B2C bookings to B2B settlements—through stablecoin-powered payments and crypto-savvy consumers making high-value transactions. Although cryptocurrency still represents a small portion of global travel spending, industry leaders believe change is coming quickly.

“Travel is an emotional and high-value purchase,” said Damien Cramer, senior vice president of global travel at Nuvei. “Seventy-four percent of customers won’t complete a booking if their preferred payment method isn’t offered.”

While consumers are increasingly open to paying with cryptocurrency, businesses have been slower to adopt it, especially for B2B transactions. That may be changing as stablecoins offer more predictable value and faster settlement.

“The speed and ease of stablecoin transactions are becoming more profound,” Cramer said. 

During an interview in the PhocusWire studio with senior reporter Morgan Hines, Nuvei’s Cramer discussed how crypto is evolving rapidly and becoming more mainstream, with faster transactions and better fiat tracking. He also touched on how adoption is expected to grow particularly in industries such as hospitality, where the technology could mean a cheaper, more efficient way to transfer funds internationally.

Cryptocurrency is carving out a role in travel&mdash;from B2C bookings to B2B settlements&mdash;through stablecoin-powered payments and crypto-savvy consumers making high-value transactions. Although cryptocurrency still represents a small portion of global travel spending, industry leaders believe change is coming quickly.
&ldquo;Travel is an emotional and high-value purchase,&rdquo; said Damien Cramer, senior vice president of global travel at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nuvei.com/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5cadecf187056a000ef37147">Nuvei</a>. &ldquo;Seventy-four percent of customers won&rsquo;t complete a booking if their preferred payment method isn&rsquo;t offered.&rdquo;
While consumers are increasingly open to paying with cryptocurrency, businesses have been slower to adopt it, especially for B2B transactions. That may be changing as stablecoins offer more predictable value and faster settlement.
&ldquo;The speed and ease of stablecoin transactions are becoming more profound,&rdquo; Cramer said.&nbsp;
During an interview in the PhocusWire studio with senior reporter Morgan Hines, Nuvei&rsquo;s Cramer discussed how crypto is evolving rapidly and becoming more mainstream, with faster transactions and better fiat tracking. He also touched on how adoption is expected to grow particularly in industries such as hospitality, where the technology could mean a cheaper, more efficient way to transfer funds internationally.

Crypto is evolving rapidly and becoming more mainstream, with faster transactions and better fiat tracking.  Adoption is expected to grow particularly in industries such as hospitality, where the technology could mean a cheaper, more efficient way to transfer funds internationally.

Priceline CEO Brett Keller reflects on 26 years at the OTA and industry evolution

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