Tripadvisor (NASDAQ:TRIP) CEO Stephen Kaufer said Wednesday that while the "whole business is rebounding," supply/demand mismatches and labor shortages are impacting hotels and other travel-related businesses.
In an interview with CNBC, Kaufer advised travelers to "pack a little patience" with their bags, as the travel community gets back to work following the COVID pandemic.
The head of the online travel booking company said he has seen some price inflation in the industry, spurred by "a little mismatch of supply and demand." He noted that some hotels have been slow getting back to business as COVID restrictions lift.
Kaufer also warned that some locations might be short of staff, as the post-COVID labor shortage hits them as well.
The interview came as Kaufer promoted the company's new $99/year subscription service. Earlier in the day, Tripadvisor revealed the new membership plan, which offers subscribers special deals and rewards.
Kaufer positioned the new service as a value play for consumers, suggesting that subscribers could use it to offset some of the near-term inflation pressures in the industry.
Shares of TRIP were up around 3% during Wednesday's mid-day trading on the subscription service launch, amid an overall sluggish market.