Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking.com tests positive for coronavirus

|

|

Last update:

Quite lately, COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruption and has made its way across the globe regardless of places and fields. This pandemic coronavirus has infected hundreds of people causing families to self-isolate in their homes.

Recently, Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holding and also Dutch leading travel booking platform Booking.com, disclosed to investors in an 8-K filing and a memo to employees that he has tested positive for coronavirus, according to the company. As per the company, it has plans for all the senior executives suggesting they could cover temporarily for Fogel if needed.

In a letter to his employees, CEO Glenn Fogel told employees that his symptom is mild, and he doesn’t believe he infected anyone at the company’s headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut.

“I developed a fever and flu-like symptoms early last week and was fortunate to be able to get a test last Thursday. Unfortunately, the tests are sometimes not so fast, and I only got the results last night. Now, I have been talking with a lot of you, sending out videos, doing TV interviews from my house, etc. and haven’t mentioned any of this. The reason is that until the test came back, I didn’t know my status, and since I am in lock-down here in NY not seeing anyone, it made more sense to wait for the results.”

“I am very grateful to have such a mild set of symptoms for just a couple of days last week and can now say that I feel fine. So I feel good for myself but, of course, feel so terrible for everyone who has not been as fortunate and is dealing with more difficult times”, wrote Fogel.

Glenn Fogel became the CEO of Booking Holdings back in January 2017. He was with the company for two decades and took on the added role as CEO of Booking.com last year.

Booking Holdings, formerly known as Priceline Group, provides online travel and related services to consumers and local partners through its six primary brands, which are Booking.com, Priceline.com, KAYAK, agoda.com, Rentalcars.com, and OpenTable.

Fogel wrote in his statement that when the pandemic is over, we will continue on our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, once the world is ready to travel again. Furthermore, He urged people to take the coronavirus seriously and practise social distancing.

“The health and safety of our employees, partners, and customers are my greatest concern right now – and I want to remind you all to practice the protocols that have been implemented by your local governments such as physical distancing when you are required to leave your home.”

“There will be difficult days ahead, and things will get worse before they get better, but I know we will weather the storm,” he said.

At last, he concluded his letter by thanking all his employees and essential workers on the frontlines of this pandemic who are risking their lives for all of us.

“First, I want to thank people who aren’t seeing this message — all of the essential workers on the frontlines of this pandemic – the medical staff, grocery clerks, delivery workers, and so many more. If you have relatives or friends serving in these fields, please know my deepest gratitude is extended to them. These people are our true heroes who are risking their lives for all of us. And I want to thank, again, all of you, our employees, who are working tirelessly for the good of our customers, partners, and the business overall. These are uncertain times, but we will get through it – together.”

Main image credits: Booking Holdings

Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more European technology news

Topics:

Follow us:

Editorial team

The editorial team of Silicon Canals brings you technology news from the European startup ecosystem. 

Partner eventsMore events

Current Month

02apr(apr 2)8:00 am04(apr 4)6:00 am0100 Europe 2025

Share to...