Stuart MacDonald, Founder, Expedia.ca
Stuart is an independent business advisor and investor, with a focus on online and web-enabled businesses. His Clients and Investee companies range from online start-ups through to Canada’s largest media and telecommunications organizations, primarily at the Senior Executive and Board level. In 2006, Stuart also was co-founder of mesh, “Canada’s Web Conference,” happening annually in Toronto, for which Stuart also produces the marketing content, conducts keynote interviews and moderates panels.
Stuart recently launched Tripharbor.ca, the web’s first online cruise vacation e-commerce and community site, with a head office in Toronto and development team in Vancouver.
Prior to this, Stuart was Founder of Expedia.ca, starting in his home and growing that business into both the most successful online travel company in Canada and the most successful local Expedia unit in the world. Stuart created and then executed the business plan, recruited the start-up team, built out local infrastructure, established inventory relationships, developed the marketing strategy and drove product development that enabled Expedia.ca to develop into one of Canada’s largest and most profitable online ventures.
Following that successful initiative, Stuart went on to serve as SVP Packages and Chief Marketing Officer of Expedia.com, based in Seattle, WA. In that role, Stuart was responsible for marketing strategy and execution for the Expedia.com brand, one of the leading brands in the world. He maintained responsibility for maximizing brand equity and business success through directing efficient and effective deployment of the company’s US$300 million marketing budget, to deliver a planned US$10 billion in annual gross bookings. This included all aspects of the marketing mix, including on and offline advertising, public relations, market research and product planning, and encompassed a team of about 50. Stuart was also responsible for Expedia.com’s dynamic packaged travel business, which was the fastest growing and most profitable area of the company’s activities, representing about 30% of overall revenue.
With years of experience in the travel industry and a diverse background in other areas, Stuart has had the opportunity to mix business with his passion for travel. His knowledge and skills in developing successful marketing and brand awareness strategies for online companies, his keen ability to spot, inspire and mentor talent, combined with his sharp business acumen, made him one of the true leaders of the company.
Prior starting Expedia.ca, Stuart’s background included a number of key sales and marketing roles in the leisure and corporate travel industry, both on - and off-line. Stuart led the on-line initiative for Signature Vacations, at the time Canada’s leading national Tour Operator, with overall project responsibilities in areas of new site development, as well as marketing, sales and partner relations. While at Signature, he also held various senior management positions in both Sales and Marketing
Stuart has also worked in several senior sales roles with the Rider-BTI Travel Group (now HRG), one of Canada’s leading corporate travel management companies. Additional and international experience includes various roles in other industry areas, including chemicals with Monsanto and international trade finance with De Lage Landen in Holland.
Stuart sits on the Board of Directors of TakingItGlobal.org, the Toronto-based global online community for youth, using social media to promote social change, with over 170,000 members worldwide, and is an Advisor to GiveMeaning.com, the Vancouver-based philanthropic giving portal.
Born in British Columbia and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, Stuart maintains a home in Toronto with his wife and two young daughters, but. Stuart graduated with a B. Comm. in 1988 from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, NS, Canada.