
179. Hopper: Bringing fintech to travel booking
About this episode
Hopper has acquired 100 million mobile users by offering consumer-friendly financial products and a gamified app experience, according to cofounder Frederic Lalonde. In this episode, Frederic takes us on a journey and explains how Hopper transformed from a company with the bulk of its initial revenue coming from airline ticket sales into a travel fintech business—selling algorithmically enabled financial products such as price-freezing capabilities and cancellation insurance. We’ll also discuss consumer psychology, the power of gamification and social commerce, and the trade-offs involved in targeting younger travelers.
Related insights:
Travel Disruptors: Bringing fintech to travel booking
What is digital transformation?
Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy.
Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com
Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/
See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Get every episode summarized
Each time Inside the Strategy Room publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Inside the Strategy Room

320. The digital twin: Reimagining non-financial risk management
Inside the Strategy Room

319. Why strategy needs mobilization, especially in this moment
Inside the Strategy Room

318. Inside the 2026 CFO Forum: How finance leaders are preparing for what's nex...
Inside the Strategy Room

317. Strategic re-underwriting in private equity
Inside the Strategy Room