Leading with Curiosity and Courage — Tara Colpitts, Vice President of Partner Operations at Expedia Group

Tara Colpitts has built her career like a world traveler maps a journey: curious detours, bold turns, and a clear sense of direction that comes from experience, not a GPS. Now Vice President of Partner Operations at Expedia Group, she leads global strategy for partner support, drawing on more than a decade at the company and a resume that includes timeshare sales, banking, hotels, ski resorts, teaching, telecom, and even a stint overseeing a customer service team in Malaysia.

Her story begins in rural Canada and winds through au pair life in Switzerland and leadership roles in the Rockies, Austria, and now London. Along the way, she’s embraced motherhood, moved continents, and proven that the path to the top doesn't have to be traditional, it just has to be yours.

We caught up with Tara to talk about carving your own path, balancing career and motherhood, and why sometimes the best strategy is to say “yes,” then figure it out as you go.

How did you get into hospitality?

I think hospitality found me in a way. I grew up in rural central Canada, and we were a traveling family...road trips across provinces, camping holidays, and the occasional international adventure. Travel was always treated as something important, something worth prioritizing, and that early exposure sparked my curiosity about the world. After high school, I moved to Switzerland as an au pair. I thought I spoke French, but I didn’t, and I learned quickly. That experience cemented my love of travel. After university, I had a crossroads: stay in Canada working in telecom or take a chance on an internship in Malaysia. I chose Malaysia. I ended up working for a branch of Hewlett Packard, monitoring calls and giving feedback to the customer service team, despite not speaking the language. It was my first brush with tech and operations, and I was hooked.

You worked in so many parts of tourism before Expedia. What stuck with you?

Storytelling. Connection. When I did timeshare sales, I loved the partner interaction. I enjoyed painting the picture, understanding what people were looking for, and helping them imagine what their experience could be. That stuck with me. Later, I worked in group sales for Lake Louise Ski Resort, and it just clicked. People were on vacation, happy, excited. It felt meaningful. I also worked in sales and marketing at Red Mountain, helping tour operators and hotel partners understand why our resort was worth the trip. That thread of helping people have an experience has guided every job I’ve taken.

What brought you to Expedia Group?

After a few moves—including leading sales teams in ski resorts, a master's degree, teaching tourism at Capilano University, and a very intense stint doing HR operations during the 2010 Winter Olympics—I took a role as Director of Sales & Marketing at Hilton Whistler. At the same time, I was teaching part-time and balancing both worlds. That’s when my market manager from Expedia Group reached out. They were growing the team in Canada and looking for people who understood the hotel business inside and out. I came in as an Area Manager, helping partners onboard and optimize their presence on Expedia. It was a great crash course in how we work, and it felt like the perfect convergence of all the experiences I’d had up to that point.

How has your experience on the hotel side shaped how you lead now?

I deeply understand our partners’ pain points because I’ve lived them. I’ve been the one dealing with rates and occupancy, chasing RFPs, and wondering why something broke. I know what it’s like to be up at night troubleshooting a distribution issue, or fielding urgent calls from revenue managers. That makes me a better listener and more pragmatic. I understand how hotel systems and staffing realities work behind the scenes. I try to think in a full-circle way, considering what the traveler needs, what the partner is up against, and how we make it all work together.

You moved to Austria with Expedia Group and had your daughter there. What was that like?

Yes, I was leading the DACH (DACH stands for Deutschland (Germany), Austria, and CH (Confoederatio Helvetica, the Latin name for Switzerland)) ski markets and pregnant with my daughter. She was born in Innsbruck, Austria, and even though she isn’t officially Austrian, she very proudly tells people she is.

I came back to work when she was just 12 weeks old. It was a profound milestone for me both professionally and personally. I was building a new team and market while figuring out how to be a new parent. I brought her and my husband with me on early work trips, which helped logistically but made it clear that I couldn’t be everywhere at once. I think that’s something a lot of working parents wrestle with—how to show up fully in both roles. It was hard, but I was determined to do both. And then, not long after, COVID hit, which forced me to stop traveling and stay grounded. In some ways, it gave me time with my daughter that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

How did your career evolve at Expedia Group?

From Area Manager, I moved into a Director role overseeing multiple markets in Europe. That transition wasn’t a straight line. I applied for a few roles before landing the one that was the right fit. I remember one interview where I realized mid-conversation that I wasn’t ready—I was still thinking like an Area Manager, not like someone who was ready to scale or lead at the next level. It taught me that what makes you successful in one role won’t necessarily make you successful in the next. I started asking myself: what’s the step change? How do I need to show up differently to be successful at the next level? That question has guided every transition since.

What makes you successful in one role won’t necessarily make you successful in the next. I started asking myself: what’s the step change? How do I need to show up differently to be successful at the next level?

And when you did step up, what helped you succeed?

Curiosity. I’ve always been curious. I’m not afraid to admit gaps, but I also come with a plan to fill them. When I moved to Austria, I didn’t speak German, but I knew ski. I knew how to lead. I leaned into those strengths and built from there. I also leaned into Expedia Group’s coaching resources and learning tools. I actively sought out mentorship, asked a lot of questions, and took advantage of every learning opportunity, from people leadership courses to business strategy workshops. For me, learning is a lifelong practice.

Women often hesitate to apply for jobs unless they feel 100 percent ready. Thoughts?

Yes, apply anyway. But have a game plan. It’s not enough to say, "That’s a gap for me." Show how you’ll close it. That shows character, ownership, and drive. I often remind women that you don’t have to be 100 percent ready. No one is. What matters is your ability to self-assess, build a plan, and be intentional about where you want to grow. And don’t be afraid to vocalize that plan—it shows foresight.

You recently stepped into a new global role. How are you approaching it?

This new role as VP of Partner Operations is about transforming how we support partners globally. I got here by stepping outside my comfort zone. A few years ago, I applied for an opportunity and didn’t get it. That disappointment actually shaped me more than the roles I did land. It pushed me to think differently about the skills I wanted to build, and how I could stretch myself to consider the 360 ecosystem of partnerships. I joined an external Chief Customer Officer forum and the Travolution advisory board. Those experiences gave me a fresh lens on operations beyond travel. When the opportunity came up, I could clearly articulate what I wanted to build. That clarity helped me land the role.

What advice would you give someone starting a new job or team?

Get clear on what you bring and what needs to change. Take a step back from the canvas. Don’t just collect input, synthesize it. Ask yourself: what needs to be reimagined? What’s working, and what’s noise? And remember, not every meeting or decision needs to involve you, use those moments to elevate others, coach your team, and create space for new perspectives. Ownership of your time is one of the most strategic tools you have.

What advice do you have for other working moms?

Be kind to yourself. That was advice given to me that I initially brushed off. But it’s everything. Also, not everything will go perfectly. Sometimes the balls drop. That’s okay. Build frameworks, plan ahead, be clear on your priorities, and give yourself grace. I’ve learned to make space for my daughter intentionally. There are no phones at our dinner table. I schedule FaceTime calls while traveling. One of our favorite things I have recently picked up is that I record myself reading her a few pages of a book each day when we’re apart. She listens before bed. It keeps us connected. I probably get more out of it than she does, but it’s our thing.

Quickfire with Tara

Morning routine? I’m up by 4:45 or 5:00 am and out the door for a run—that’s my non-negotiable. I used to be a rigorous marathoner, and while I don’t race as much anymore, running remains my daily reset. After that, it’s breakfast and straight into work, usually before most people have had their first coffee.

Self-care go-tos? Running, definitely. It’s both my routine and my release. Especially with a demanding travel schedule, that alone time on the road or treadmill helps me stay grounded. When I need to unplug completely, I’ll listen to a podcast or watch something light—Stanley Tucci in Italy is a favorite when I want to escape without leaving the couch.

Best advice you ever received? Actually, it was the worst advice that stuck with me. A leader once told me not to take the leap out of my comfort zone for a role, saying it wasn’t a smart move for me. I almost let that shake my confidence. I almost listened to his perspective more than my own. But I trusted myself, and it turned out to be the best decision of my career. It is what led me to a role with Expedia Group.

Travel hack? Carry-on only. Always. Even for multi-week trips. I don’t want the stress of wondering if my bag will show up.

On a final note, Expedia just released new data on trends that are driving travel demand this fall. Do you think fall is the new high season? According to our latest Fall Travel Outlook, travel in the autumn is booming...from cozy, leaf-peeping getaways in Mystic, Connecticut, and Banff, Canada, to culture-rich escapes in Cairo and Guatemala, and warm-weather retreats like Okinawa and Koh Samui. As an outdoor enthusiast, I love autumn travel! Especially having worked in ski resorts and hotels for so long. It’s the perfect time to disconnect, hit the hiking trails in Canada, and soak in the beauty of seasonal transformation.