Booking the Feeling: Emotion, Brand & the Connected Trip at Booking.com
Wed Feb 04 2026
Travel is emotional, but booking a trip often isn’t. As expectations rise, Booking.com is working to bring emotion to moments that usually feels purely functional. Convenience isn’t the only game in town.
In this episode, Jane Ostler talks with Ben Harrel, Managing Director, US at Booking.com. They discuss how the brand blends performance and long‑term storytelling to spark that Booking.yeah feeling, how creators help the brand speak authentically to different travellers, and how Gen AI is enabling more tailored and relevant communication at scale. Ben also shares a practical vision for the connected trip: a future where flights, stays, cars and attractions seamlessly work together, as well as how they can step in proactively when things go wrong, working towards a frictionless experience.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Travel is emotional, but booking a trip often isn’t. As expectations rise, Booking.com is working to bring emotion to moments that usually feels purely functional. Convenience isn’t the only game in town. In this episode, Jane Ostler talks with Ben Harrel, Managing Director, US at Booking.com. They discuss how the brand blends performance and long‑term storytelling to spark that Booking.yeah feeling, how creators help the brand speak authentically to different travellers, and how Gen AI is enabling more tailored and relevant communication at scale. Ben also shares a practical vision for the connected trip: a future where flights, stays, cars and attractions seamlessly work together, as well as how they can step in proactively when things go wrong, working towards a frictionless experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.