{"id":16878,"date":"2015-03-27T01:02:26","date_gmt":"2015-03-27T01:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=16878"},"modified":"2021-10-28T16:36:04","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T16:36:04","slug":"expedia-tech-profiles-greg-schulze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/expedia-tech-profiles-greg-schulze\/","title":{"rendered":"Expedia tech profiles: Greg Schulze"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re back this month with another technology profile: this time with Greg Schulze, senior vice president of global tour and development. Many people know Expedia offers hotel deals, but few realize just how many different travel elements we provide. Greg\u2019s team manages the various elements travelers may be searching for outside of hotels: flights, rental cars, and cruises. I chatted with him following his session at The Future of Travel<\/a>, an event hosted by The Economist<\/em>, held earlier this week in Madrid, Spain. Leaders from the travel industry came together at the conference to discuss global technology, innovation, and regulation topics and forecast what the business will look like over the next ten years. Greg was excited to share the inside scoop about his role at Expedia, and the future of technology in travel.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Tarran Vaillancourt (TV)<\/strong>: What made you want to work for Expedia, and how long have you been with the company?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Greg Schulze (GS)<\/strong>: I joined Expedia in 2005. I was working for an airline and loving the travel industry, but also wanted to work for a top-tier technology company. The internet was already a big part of travel and Expedia was a clear leader, but there was still so much opportunity. From the beginning, Expedia has been singularly focused on how to use technology to improve the travel experience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

TV<\/strong>: As senior vice president of global tour and transport, what elements do you oversee?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

GS<\/strong>: We like to say at Expedia that my team works on everything that moves. We create global, integrated strategies for Expedia\u2019s air, car, package, rail, cruise, and insurance lines of business. This includes the management of our relationships with airlines, car rental companies, and cruise lines, in addition to partnerships for connectivity, insurance, rail, and tour operator packages.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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Greg Schulze<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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TV<\/strong>: What is your favorite part of working for Expedia, and what\u2019s your proudest accomplishment from the time you\u2019ve spent with the brand?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

GS<\/strong>: We are a global company and I always enjoy traveling to our offices around the world. Expedia people are not just great technologists, but we are also passionate about travel. I am proud that after 20 years, Expedia continues to innovate, inspires people to travel, and provides an easy (delightful?) experience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

TV<\/strong>: What kind of travel trends can we expect to be big in 2015?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

GS<\/strong>: Mobile continues to grow. And we all expect to have a seamless experience between mobile and desktop and back to mobile. We consumers are getting smarter because we have all the information needed to enjoy travel at our fingertips. But planning trips is becoming increasingly complex, as airlines add more and more options. You\u2019ll see Expedia continue to lead the industry in providing a clear view of your choices and helping you to make informed purchase decisions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

TV<\/strong>: Speaking of travel this year, I took a look at the recently released\u00a0Preparing for Takeoff: Air Travel Trends 2015\u00a0report. Can you tell us more about what travelers can expect in terms of air travel this year? Any tips for finding and securing the best deals on airfare based on the report?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

GS<\/strong>: Here\u2019s the advice I would give travelers from our report<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n