Expedia Group Welcomes Xavier Amatriain as Its First Chief AI & Data Officer

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Meta Description: Expedia Group appoints Xavier Amatriain as its first Chief AI & Data Officer, strengthening its global vision for AI-driven travel innovation. Discover what this leadership move means for the future of smart travel.
Tags: Expedia Group, Travel Technology, AI in Travel, Xavier Amatriain, Travel Innovation, Machine Learning, Travel News

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In a move that signals the future of travel is about to get a whole lot smarter, Expedia Group has officially appointed Xavier Amatriain as its first-ever Chief AI & Data Officer. For a company that already empowers millions of travellers around the world, this milestone marks the beginning of a new era—one where AI, personalisation, and intelligent travel planning take centre stage.

With this newly created role, Expedia Group is doubling down on its long-term vision: to transform the global travel ecosystem through advanced artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation. And with Xavier at the helm, that future looks remarkably promising.

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Who Is Xavier Amatriain—and Why Is This Big News for the Travel World?

Xavier isn’t just another tech leader; he’s one of the most respected minds in AI today, with over two decades of experience designing and scaling AI systems used by millions worldwide.

Before joining Expedia Group, Xavier served as VP of AI and Compute Enablement at Google, where he helped power some of the tech giant’s most influential platforms—including Gemini, Google Cloud, Search, and Ads. His work shaped how AI enhances everyday user experiences, and now, that expertise is coming to the travel sector.

His journey also includes leadership roles at LinkedIn and Netflix, where he contributed to the groundbreaking personalization engines that changed how we connect, watch, and discover. Xavier has also guided rising AI talent—mentoring innovators who later founded companies like Perplexity and Scale AI.

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What Will Xavier Lead at Expedia Group?

As Chief AI & Data Officer, Xavier will:

• Head Expedia Group’s global AI and Data organization

• Build the strategic roadmap for next-generation machine learning and generative AI

• Drive large-scale business value by turning data into smarter travel solutions

• Strengthen the technology powering Expedia’s global travel platforms

He will report directly to Ramana Thumu, Chief Technology Officer, and will be based in San Jose, California.

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What This Means for Travellers and the Travel Industry

Imagine a world where planning your next trip feels effortless:

✨ Hyper-personalised itineraries
✨ Smarter recommendations based on your tastes
✨ Predictive pricing powered by AI
✨ Seamless end-to-end travel planning on a single platform

With Xavier’s arrival, this vision edges closer to reality.

Expedia Group’s investment in top-tier AI leadership sends a clear message:
the future of travel will be more intuitive, more personalised, and more connected than ever before.