Ever wonder who steers the ship at lastminute.com? The CEO is the person making the big calls that affect how you book that last‑minute flight or hotel. Knowing a bit about them can help you understand why the site works the way it does.
The current CEO, Michael O’Connor, started in the tech world before moving into travel. He spent ten years at a European startup building booking engines, then jumped to a major airline’s digital team. Those roles taught him how to merge data, price engines, and customer needs – the exact mix that powers lastminute.com.
Before joining lastminute.com, O’Connor ran a boutique travel‑tech firm that created AI‑driven price alerts. That experience gave him a solid grounding in using algorithms to push deals at the right moment. When he took the helm in 2022, the company was looking to shake off an old‑school image and become more mobile‑focused.
O’Connor’s top priority is speed. He wants every search to load in under two seconds, even on a slow connection. To hit that goal, he’s rolling out a new cloud infrastructure that cuts latency and lets the site handle spikes during holiday sales.
Another big move is personalisation. Under his direction, the platform now recommends hotels based on past stays, travel style, and even weather forecasts at the destination. That means you’ll see a beach resort suggestion if you’ve booked sun trips before, or a city‑center apartment if you’re a business traveller.
He’s also pushing sustainability. The CEO announced a partnership with green‑certified hotels, giving users a badge they can filter by. Travelers who care about the environment can now spot eco‑friendly options without a separate search.
Challenges aren’t missing. The travel market is crowded, and price wars keep margins thin. O’Connor says the answer is added value – things like free Wi‑Fi upgrades, easy cancellation, and a 24/7 chat that actually solves problems.
Looking ahead, he’s betting on voice search. Early tests let users say, “Find me a cheap flight to Madrid next Friday,” and the system pulls up results in real time. If the trial succeeds, you might be booking trips just by talking to your phone.
For anyone using lastminute.com, O’Connor’s changes mean faster results, more relevant offers, and a greener choice list. Keep an eye on updates – the site will keep adding features that reflect his tech‑first, customer‑centric mindset.
Bottom line? The lastminute.com CEO is a tech‑savvy leader who blends speed, personalisation, and sustainability to keep the platform competitive. Knowing his focus areas helps you get the most out of the site, whether you’re hunting a last‑minute deal or planning a big vacation.
Who runs lastminute.com in 2025? Get the inside track on the CEO, leadership style, and what this means for travel-lovers and deal-hunters alike.