Trivago CEO says AI can multiply impact and boost growth
Trivago chief Johannes Thomas credits artificial intelligence for the company's recent revenue surge and urges other CEOs to devote a few hours each week to AI.
Trivago, the Düsseldorf-based hotel-search platform, posted a 21% increase in second-quarter revenue, reaching 168.4 million euros, a rebound Thomas links to a strategic AI push. Faced with a board decision to either downsize to 200 staff or amplify output through AI, the company opted for the latter, expanding its workforce impact from 600 to an estimated 6,000. Thomas now spends more than half his time on AI initiatives, up from a quarter a year earlier, and has built a “role evolution agent” that analyses employee data to generate personalized automation roadmaps.
The tool even suggested eliminating earnings preparation for Thomas himself, freeing him for higher-value tasks. He advises other CEOs to block one to two hours each week for AI experimentation and work redesign. The article also notes broader market moves, including expanded U.S. sanctions on Iran and OpenAI’s appointment of Dali Rajic as chief revenue officer.
Why it matters
It shows how midsize firms can use AI to drive growth without massive layoffs.
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