Québec

Ken Harris is democratizing travel to reframe customer experience.

Frequent flyer. Determined innovator. Ken saw a clear customer experience gap when he inquired about upgrading to business class on a busy flight – only to be told it wasn’t possible. Set on democratizing the travel experience, Ken created a platform where passengers could bid to upgrade, improving their own experience and empowering airlines to monetize unused inventory. Through Plusgrade, Ken’s built a revolutionary, white-label upgrade solution that integrates directly into airline booking systems.

Setting a new standard for more than 200 travel brands in 60 countries

When establishing Plusgrade in 2009, Ken faced considerable skepticism right across the industry. He forged ahead anyway. This year, General Atlantic announced a $1 billion investment to fuel Plusgrade’s continued growth, bolster transactions and enhance operational efficiencies. In 2023, Ken’s business has generated over $5 billion in revenue across global travel partners and is expected to continue its tremendous growth in 2024.

Reinvesting growth in the local community

As Ken scales Plusgrade, he’s made sure the broader community benefits from the organization’s growth. Employee-led giving supports a long list of local initiatives. What’s more, Ken himself is an active community leader, playing key roles with the Jewish General Hospital Foundation board of directors, the Montréal Children’s Hospital and the CURE Foundation, which supports low-income Canadian women undergoing breast cancer treatment.