A retired member of the New York State Bar has not argued a case in years, and it is unlikely he misses it. The travel industry, it turns out, offered a far bigger stage than any courtroom. A Harvard Law School graduate who began his career in air transportation investment banking would go on to help shape one of the world’s largest travel companies, transforming how millions of people plan, book, and experience travel.
Glenn Fogel is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Booking Holdings, the global travel company behind Booking.com, KAYAK, Priceline, Agoda, OpenTable, and Rentalcars.com. He has served as CEO and President since January 2017 and, since June 2019, has also led Booking.com as its Chief Executive Officer. Those leadership roles are the culmination of more than twenty-six years spent inside a single organization, guiding its evolution from an online travel business into one of the world’s most influential digital travel ecosystems.
Before the Bookings, There Were the Deals
Glenn’s journey into travel began not with tourism, but with finance.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, he began his career in investment banking, specializing in the air transportation sector at Kidder, Peabody & Co. from 1988 to 1995. He later joined Morgan Stanley Asset Management, where he worked in investment management before making the career move that would define the next quarter-century of his professional life.
In February 2000, Glenn joined Booking Holdings, then known as Priceline, as Vice President of Corporate Development. From there, he steadily assumed broader responsibilities, serving as Senior Vice President of International, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and International, Managing Director of Corporate Development and International, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, and later Head of Worldwide Strategy and Planning before becoming Chief Executive Officer.
Building a Global Travel Ecosystem
Glenn’s greatest contribution to Booking Holdings has been his long-term vision for strategic growth.
During his years leading corporate development and worldwide strategy, he played a central role in expanding the company’s portfolio through acquisitions and strategic investments that reshaped online travel. Under his leadership in corporate development and strategy, Booking Holdings strengthened and expanded brands including Booking.com, KAYAK, OpenTable, Agoda, and Rentalcars.com, creating an integrated ecosystem that serves travelers throughout every stage of their journey.
Today, Booking Holdings operates one of the world’s largest online travel marketplaces, connecting millions of travelers with accommodations, transportation, dining, and mobility services across more than 220 countries and territories.
Rather than building a single travel brand, he helped assemble a collection of specialized businesses that collectively transformed how people search, compare, reserve, and experience travel worldwide.
Twenty-Six Years, One Company
In an industry known for constant disruption and executive turnover, Glenn’s career stands out for its remarkable continuity.
Over more than two decades with Booking Holdings, he has progressed from corporate development executive to the company’s highest leadership position, gaining deep operational knowledge across acquisitions, international expansion, corporate strategy, and global operations before assuming responsibility for the entire organization.
Since January 2017, he has led Booking Holdings as Chief Executive Officer and President. Since June 2019, he has simultaneously served as Chief Executive Officer of Booking.com, overseeing both the parent company and its flagship global brand.
That dual leadership role reflects an uncommon level of trust and continuity within one of the travel industry’s most influential organizations.
Innovation Through Strategy
While many travel leaders are associated with individual products or technologies, Glenn’s impact has been broader and more strategic.
Throughout his leadership, Booking Holdings has continued investing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, connected trip experiences, and personalized travel planning, helping simplify increasingly complex travel journeys while connecting travelers with millions of accommodation providers, transportation partners, restaurants, and attractions worldwide.
His approach has consistently centered on making travel more seamless through technology while maintaining strong partnerships across the global travel ecosystem.
Leadership Beyond Business
Glenn’s influence extends beyond corporate performance.
He serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Travel Association, contributing to initiatives that strengthen America’s travel industry and promote policies supporting tourism and economic growth.
His leadership has also positioned Booking Holdings among the world’s most influential travel technology companies, playing a significant role in shaping conversations around digital transformation, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and the future of global mobility.
The Long View
There is something quietly remarkable about an executive who joined an online travel company in 2000—before smartphones, social media, or app-based travel planning—and remains at its helm today.
Over those years, the industry has transformed through digital booking, mobile technology, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and changing traveler expectations. Through every wave of change, Glenn has helped steer Booking Holdings toward long-term growth by combining disciplined strategy with a willingness to embrace innovation.
His career is not defined by a single breakthrough or headline acquisition. Instead, it is defined by sustained leadership, thoughtful expansion, and an ability to recognize how individual businesses could become part of something much larger.
Today, Booking Holdings stands as one of the world’s most influential travel companies not simply because of the brands it owns, but because of how those brands work together to create a seamless travel experience for millions of people around the globe.
For more than a quarter of a century, Glenn Fogel has helped build that system—one acquisition, one partnership, and one strategic decision at a time.
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