Ken Harris

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025 finalist, Canada
Founder and CEO of Plusgrade

Ken Harris is helping travelers elevate every journey while driving growth for the global travel industry.

Ken Harris has always been driven by a spirit of adventure. An avid traveler since his student days, he has backpacked through and lived in many countries around the world. More than 15 years ago, he brought home an idea after noticing empty premium airplane seats going unused.

In 2009, Ken founded Plusgrade to help travel companies unlock new revenue while giving travelers better experiences. Based in Montreal, the company partners with more than 250 airlines, hotels, cruise lines, passenger rail and financial services companies worldwide. Its platform integrates directly into booking systems, enabling travelers to bid for or buy premium upgrades.

Plusgrade also helps travelers get more from their loyalty rewards, making it easy to buy miles to reach a trip faster, exchange points between programs or boost their balance with new ways to earn — like subscribing for monthly miles or topping up after a flight. By giving travelers more ways to enhance their journey, Plusgrade turns everyday trips into unforgettable experiences — whether it’s stretching out in a premium seat, celebrating a honeymoon in an upgraded suite, or booking that long-awaited vacation using hard-earned rewards.

Plusgrade continues to grow, employing 750 people globally. It has acquired companies like Points, a leader in loyalty commerce, and UpStay, a provider of upsell solutions for the hospitality industry. Plusgrade’s products are designed to bring more joy and excitement to travel, making each journey more rewarding. Or as they say around the halls at Plusgrade: “Millions of smiles. Billions of dollars.”