The Chief Executive Officer of the travel discount website Priceline.com, Paul J. Hennessy, was the guest speaker at the Palisades Institute 25th Anniversary Celebration on October 8, 2015.
Hennessy, a 1992 graduate of Dominican College, was appointed to the position in April after holding a variety of jobs within the Priceline Group over the past 20 years, including Chief Marketing Officer at the very successful Bookings.com. During his speech, he said he has instituted a five pillar strategy at Priceline.com, represented by the acronym CLIMB – customers, learning, innovation, momentum and belief.
Hennessy explained what he means by belief. “We needed to believe in something bigger. We needed to believe that we actually made a difference. And we needed to believe that we could make great products at scale and speed,” he said. “By the way, we needed to believe that we could operate outside of the U.S.”
That CLIMB acronym has become part of the culture of Priceline.com. “Guess what? We are starting to turn the corner. People are actually starting to believe. They are starting to like the new pace. They are engaging our customers and everyone feels great,” he said.
Hennessy spoke in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall during the evening reception celebrating 25 years since the founding of the Palisades Institute. The Palisades Institute was founded in 1990 as part of Dominican College to assist businesses, government, and not-for-profit groups in applying the principles of quality, leadership and ethics by offering seminars and workshops.
Hennessy’s father, James E. Hennessy, founded the Palisades Institute with the former Director of Graduate Studies Sr. Beryl Herdt, O.P., and Chancellor Sr. Kathleen Sullivan, O.P.