Booking Holdings CEO “feeling 100 per cent fine” after testing positive for COVID-19

Booking Holdings CEO “feeling 100 per cent fine” after testing positive for COVID-19

Booking Holdings chief executive Glenn Fogel has urged the company’s staff to “be as careful as possible” and follow government regulations after testing positive for COVID-19.

In a video message to employees at the beginning of April, Fogel revealed he had contracted the deadly virus after suffering “a little bit of a fever” and “coughing a bit”.

However, Fogel said he is now “feeling 100 per cent fine” and, according to a Booking Holdings filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, has not shown any symptoms of the coronavirus since 28 March.

“Now, I know not everyone has been so fortunate to have such a short bit of symptoms and have come back so easily and so quickly, and I really do feel terrible for the people who are having a much harder time with this virus,” Fogel said.

“Everybody, please – you’ve got to be as careful as possible. Follow all the regulations, all the rules. Whatever your government is telling you to do, please follow that. It’s so important, not just for yourself, but for everybody else, too.”

Fogel also thanked his staff at Booking for their tireless efforts during what is a time of unprecedented uncertainty in the travel industry.

“I know it’s not easy working these kind[s] of hours, under this kind of stress, many times alone. I know it’s really, really hard,” he said.

“We need to stick together, everyone. Lean on each other – together we’re stronger.”

You can watch Fogel’s video message in full here.

Booking noted in its securities exchange filing that Fogel has continued to perform his responsibilities as CEO at all times since contracting COVID-19.

“The company maintains full succession plans for all senior executives, including temporary delegation of responsibilities to other leaders within the organisation if necessary for any reason,” the company added.

Speaking to Bloomberg earlier this month, Fogel said Booking.com has been dealing with as many as 400,000 customer enquiries a day as a result of tight travel restrictions implemented by governments to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s a hard thing, but we’re getting in through,” he said.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]