Expedia Group is moving in a “radically changed” direction thanks to new performance metrics driven by CFO Scott Schenkel, who joined the company in 2024.
Schenkel came in with a three-year financial architecture and operating metrics plan that accounted for cost structure and future investments. Under Schenkel, the team implemented higher targets, focused outcomes and a more regular review of metrics. Schenkel said he identified site speed and conversion rates among the list of metrics that needed improvement. Marketing was another focus area.
Originally, he anticipated adaptation to a metrics-forward mindset would be a multi-year process. But in the last six to nine months, Schenkel said the company has made a pivot.
“I was surprised at just how quickly the team was able to do it,” Schenkel said, during an interview at Morgan Stanley’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on Tuesday.
Expedia Group has sharpened how it works with vendors, how it uses the cloud and how it uses data, according to Schenkel. The company is also leaning into artificial intelligence (AI), which has resulted in efficiencies, including a rise in self-service rate, which is now above 50% thanks to AI.
“There's an enormous value chain, if you will, of opportunities that we can enable with AI that are super exciting, and we're ahead on some and we're pacing right on track with where we want on others,” Schenkel said.
Schenkel also pointed to Expedia Group’s workforce reductions as a cost-saving measure, which have come as much of the industry shifts their hiring focus with AI in mind.
“Fewer people doing fewer things, better, faster, with more impact—that's how we think about it,” he said, adding he expects further productivity resulting from AI use.
In January, Expedia Group announced a restructuring with both cuts and new hiring efforts. The company also made eliminations in March 2025.
By optimizing metrics, improving performance and cutting costs, the company leaves room for reinvestment in emerging technologies like AI, Schenkel said of his overall philosophy.
“We'll test the efficient frontier,” Schenkel said. “We'll reinvest where we see capabilities to grow.”