Technology Magazine October 2021 | Page 163

PRICELINE
Priceline the pioneers of the ultimate travel deal , with their customer-centric platform

We all love a deal . US-based Priceline is renowned for being the ultimate travel dealmaker and having a customer-centric platform .

“ Priceline is the best travel dealmaker in the world ,” said Martin Brodbeck , Chief Technology Officer who points out the online travel company has invested time during the pandemic transforming its digital platform . “ Priceline is a data-driven company and we use this data to listen to what our customers want , and rapidly adapt to any changing dynamic in the marketplace as has happened during the pandemic .” Speaking from New York , Brodbeck says the travel landscape has changed in the US since Covid-19 with more citizens focusing on domestic travel rather than outbound vacations to other parts of the world .
But there is one thing that hasn ’ t changed , everyone wants a deal . Priceline founder Jay Walker recognised this back in 1997 at a time when US airlines regularly flew twothirds full , with millions of seats empty and a million hotel rooms unused every night .
Walker was also one of the first in the travel industry to recognise the business potential of the internet . His idea was to harness the internet to drive demand to fill planes and hotels by asking Priceline customers to make an offer – name their own price - rather than pay the full fare .
Another of his inspired ideas was to invite Captain Kirk ( aka William Shatner ) from Star Trek to become the ambassador for Priceline . He became known as ‘ The Negotiator ’ and was
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