Hotels.com Mogul Bob Diener: Aish Ha'Am WZO Candidate

If you’ve ever used Hotels.com or Getaroom.com to find a hotel room, you have Bob Diener to thank. The entrepreneur co-founded both websites, revolutionizing the travel industry.

After practicing securities and corporate law with the firm of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Bob founded and sold a number of airline travel companies. Then, in 1991, he founded Hotel Reservations Network, which eventually morphed into Hotels.com. This was one of the first travel websites and served as the merchant model for booking hotel rooms online.

Bob utilized his massive success to give back to his Jewish community in Miami, where he lives, and to worldwide Jewry through his contributions to Aish, AIPAC, Israel Bonds, and the Hasbara Fellowships. In addition to his generosity, Bob plays an active role in strategic discussions, offering incisive input and stewardship. His dedication to the Jewish people has earned him a spot as one of Aish Ha'Am candidates in the World Zionist Organization’s delegation to the 39th World Zionist Congress.

Working with Aish to Inspire Young Jews

If Bob were to become a delegate, his mission would be to “bring much more awareness of our issues and the work we are doing to educate so many unaffiliated Jews,” he said, referring to the work he does with Aish. “We focus on where young people go to for news and information – social media. Through creative videos, articles, subjects, and marketing, we aim to attract young Jews to our programming.”

Currently, in terms of social media, Aish uses TikTok, where it has nearly 20,000 followers and 222,000+ likes, and Instagram, where it has 130,000 followers, to reach young Jews with videos on Jewish principles, practices like Shabbat and kashrut, pop culture references to Judaism, Jewish and Israel news, and inspirational stories.

Focusing on social media in particular would be at the top of the list for Bob if he were elected to WZO.

“I want to expand the social media work at Aish and significantly expand our reach and bring young Jews back to their roots,” he said. “We are seeing great success in education thru social media and have only scratched the surface. With more resources and dedication, we can exponentially expand our work.”

Activism – and Jewish Pride – in a Post-October 7 World

Since October 7, Bob – who was already a dedicated philanthropist and member of the Jewish community – has amped up his activism. He is constantly giving back and encouraging others to do the same, especially at this critical time.

“I’m working with members of Congress through AIPAC and political advocacy, supporting the State of Israel through my board position on Israel Bonds, working with the Aish team to expand Jewish learning on social media, and working with organizations such as Hasbara Fellowships and Birthright to take students to Israel and train them for pro-Israel advocacy,” he said.

Bob has always been a proud Jew; he went to Jewish day school growing up and is an active part of his Jewish community, where he dedicates his energy to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and several other Jewish organizations there.

“Judaism is central in my life,” he said. “Everything I do is influenced by my devotion to Judaism.”

What October 7, and the Jewish people’s entire history has taught him, is that “we can’t rely on others to protect us,” which motivates him to keep fighting for his people. The most pressing issues facing the community, in his view, include “assimilation, antisemitism, and the attempted delegitimization of the State of Israel.”

However, if young Jews educate themselves, engage with their Judaism, and become informed, they can take on these issues and proudly contribute to their continuity of their people.

“Knowledge is key,” Bob said. “Learn as much as you can about your people and history.”