Pitchakorn Punpornmatee | Lodging Partner Associate II, Expedia Group in Bangkok

There is a saying “Travel is a force for good” and I totally agree. The travel industry is huge nowadays and it is certainly continuing to grow bigger and bigger. It has become a part of our lives when a break from the stresses of work is needed.

Who does not love traveling? … I believe ‘nobody’. It could even be something addictive for somebody like me. Working in the travel business has been my dream job, and with Expedia Group, what I get is more than just a regular job.

“We don’t just do it simply and we are always Relentlessly Striving for Better.”

I have been working with Expedia Group for a year and a half, and out of all of the jobs I have had, I have stayed here the longest. What keeps me here? There’s a ton of reasons: the fun workplace, the positive changes, and the challenges for self-development – but the one thing that stands out for me the most (as a Political Science graduate) is the social development aim and our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

So, what does Expedia Group contribute to society?

Let me tell you a story… As a Lodging Partner Associate for the Thai market, I saw first-hand the pain points the small local hoteliers had to face, including high fixed cost, expensive marketing cost, and low bookings during low season. Making just one mistake in managing their resources could potentially lead to business failures and, subsequently, local people losing their jobs. I began to wonder how I would be able to help, and the answer is Expedia’s Online Platform.

I get to see with my own eyes that Expedia Group strives to be Locally Relevant on a Global Basis (one of our Guiding Principles). I provide our business partners with knowledge of how to maximize their profits by increasing their revenues and reducing marketing costs through the use of the online platform. What I suddenly realized is that the local Thai entrepreneurs could also benefit from innovation to be more competitive. As travel trends are now changing, with travelers no longer requiring guided tours and tending to organize their own trips for more flexibility and more local experiences, innovation through online platforms can play a key role in connecting both domestic and international travelers to local communities without the interference of the middlemen. This way, money can flow directly from travelers to the communities, and create direct income distribution, which can considerably help to narrow the social gap while increasing people’s well-being. And Expedia Group has been doing well in building that bridge to connect local hoteliers with travelers.

On top of that, Expedia Group also proactively encourages Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through Expedia Cares with the missions to align with 8 of the 17 United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. This can literally change the lives of millions of people.

I have also participated in Global Day of Caring activities; for example, donating clothes and books, helping in a beach cleaning day, etc. We also have the platform for all employees across continents to give a donation for those countries affected by a natural disaster (Expedia Group’s disaster relief program). The recent one that we helped to raise donations for was the earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This is a good example of One Team, Group First – a Guiding Principles that encourages us to work together to make a better world.

I believe the big companies these days should be moving toward being more sustainable, rather than just being more profitable. Expedia Group is definitely one of those, we have continuously been working on this part, with direct and indirect aids. Either way, more or less, I am happy to play a part in promoting, helping, and sustaining local communities and beautiful cities around the world through this global travel technology company, Expedia Group.