Google’s Former VP Joins Expedia to Lead AI Transformation

Expedia Group has appointed its first chief AI and data science officer, Xavier Amatriain, who previously served as the VP of AI and compute enablement at Google. In that role, he oversaw the large-scale systems that support Gemini, Search, and Ads, giving him deep experience in managing complex AI infrastructure.

A key focus for Amatriain will be helping Expedia use its extensive traveler data to improve search accuracy, increase conversion rates, and guide the development of new AI-driven products.

His work will be central to Expedia’s broader vision of transforming how travelers discover trips, compare options, and finalize bookings.

Under Amatriain’s leadership, Expedia Group plans to integrate AI more deeply into its major brands, including Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. These efforts build on the company’s recent initiatives, such as its collaborations with OpenAI and Perplexity.

The move also highlights Expedia’s need to keep pace with competitors: Google is expanding its AI travel tools, and Booking.com has launched AI assistants for trip planning.

Bringing in Amatriain signals that Expedia intends to compete more confidently in the new wave of AI-driven travel experiences.

Read our explainer on AI travel agents, which breaks down how AI is reshaping the travel industry and changing the competitive landscape for OTAs.