US travel technology giant Sabre has announced the appointment of Derek Sharp as Senior Vice President, Lodging, Ground and Media. Based in Southlake, Texas, he will take up the role on 8 September 2026 and will report to Andy Finkelstein, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Marketplace at Sabre.
Derek Sharp succeeds Chinmai Sharma, who is leaving the group after several years steering the growth of the Lodging, Ground and Media business. His mandate will be to deepen supplier relationships, strengthen customer engagement and broaden the quality and choice of content available on Sabre’s marketplace, making it easier for buyers to compare and purchase an ever-wider range of travel offerings.
A seasoned figure in the travel and technology markets
Derek Sharp brings more than thirty years of commercial and operational leadership experience across the travel, transportation, IT services and consulting sectors. He has held senior positions at organisations including EDS/HP, CWT and Travelport, with responsibilities spanning the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
His career has been marked by reshaping business models, improving profitability, developing customer offerings and building strategic partnerships — skills that Sabre intends to draw on to shape the next phase of growth for its Lodging business.
An appointment amid growth for the hotel business
The appointment comes as Sabre’s hotel-related revenue rose 11% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, momentum the group attributes to the development of its content, technology capabilities and customer adoption. Sabre also sees further potential in platform offerings that combine media and data, where scale and industry analytics can help suppliers and buyers make better-informed decisions.
“Lodging, ground transportation and media represent important growth areas for Sabre as we continue to evolve our marketplace and create more value for our customers,” said Andy Finkelstein. “Derek brings deep experience across travel, technology and professional services, with a strong track record leading commercial and operational teams. His customer focus, international experience and results will help accelerate this business into its next phase.”
Derek Sharp himself highlighted the significance of the moment for the travel industry: “As a leader in agentic AI, Sabre has a significant opportunity to help agencies and suppliers access a richer offering and create more connected shopping experiences across lodging, ground transportation, media and data.”
Sabre, a central player in travel distribution
Sabre operates one of the world’s largest global distribution systems (GDS), connecting airlines, hotels and car rental companies with travel agencies, corporations and travellers. The group has also stepped up its agentic AI initiatives in recent months, a strategic focus it presents as a growth driver across all its businesses, including hotel distribution.
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At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Sabre appoints Derek Sharp as SVP, Lodging, Ground and Media
Effective date: September 8, 2026
Reports to: Andy Finkelstein, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Marketplace
Succeeds: Chinmai Sharma
Background: 30+ years across EDS/HP, CWT and Travelport
Context: Sabre’s hotel-related revenue up 11% year-over-year in Q2 2026
Focus areas: supplier relationships, content quality, media and data platform offerings
