Booking.com News

As a global leader in online accommodations and travel services, Booking.com continues to shape the digital travel experience through innovation, platform evolution, and strategic partnerships. PhocusWire delivers the latest Booking.com news to keep industry professionals informed on how this travel giant is adapting to shifting market dynamics and consumer expectations.

Key Booking.com updates, partnerships, and market trends

Follow developments in Booking.com’s core technology, loyalty strategies, and supplier relationships, along with its expansion into flights, experiences, and payments. Our reporting covers how the brand is responding to competitive pressures, regulatory environments, and the increasing demand for seamless, personalized travel.

Expedia Group and Booking Holdings slashed marketing by $6B in 2020 (but Airbnb now makes an entrance)
News / Online
Expedia Group and Booking Holdings slashed marketing by $6B in 2020 (but Airbnb now makes an entrance)
By Kevin May | March 2, 2021
The body check on marketing spend by the two giants of online travel in 2020 ends a run of gradually slowing increases in prior years. Read More
Booking Holdings focuses on payment platform, connected trip and U.S. growth as 2020 revenue drops 55%
News / Online
Booking Holdings focuses on payment platform, connected trip and U.S. growth as 2020 revenue drops 55%
By Mitra Sorrells | February 24, 2021
Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel says the company is focusing on products and strategies that can help the company grow as travel resumes. Read More
your-rentals-refund-data
News / Distribution
Fully refundable vacation rentals get 4.2X more bookings, higher revenue
By Mitra Sorrells | February 5, 2021
Data from Your.rentals shows January bookings were 92% of pre-COVID levels for properties with fully refundable cancellation policies, but only 23% of the norm for those with partial or non-refundable... Read More
siteminder-channel-report
News / Distribution
Hotel direct channels gained share of bookings in 2020
By Mitra Sorrells | February 2, 2021
A new report from SiteMinder details the top booking revenue sources in markets around the world. Read More
travalyst-coalition-report
News / Online
Prince Harry-backed Travalyst coalition urges industry collaboration to “rebuild more responsibly”
By Mitra Sorrells | January 29, 2021
Former Skyscanner CEO Bryan Dove is now chairing the coalition, working alongside Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, who launched it in 2019 with Booking.com, Skyscanner, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and... Read More
How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020
News / Online
How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020
By Linda Fox | January 28, 2021
Travel apps went quiet as the pandemic hit but there were some notable exceptions such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Read More
VIDEO: How the pandemic might impact travel loyalty programs
News / Distribution
VIDEO: How the pandemic might impact travel loyalty programs
By Linda Fox | January 5, 2021
Travel loyalty programs will have to add flexible elements to their schemes to keep members with them. Read More
Tech challenges (and coronavirus) were the focus for rental managers in 2020
News / Technology
Tech challenges (and coronavirus) were the focus for rental managers in 2020
By Linda Fox | December 22, 2020
Short-term rental managers wouldn't wave away the pandemic with a magic wand, according to a Hostfully report. Read More
Why true diversity and inclusion demands a global approach
Opinion / Online
Why true diversity and inclusion demands a global approach
By Gillian Tans - Booking.com | December 15, 2020
Fighting for equal representation means fighting for the recovery of our industry - and it’s vital for the future of travel. Read More
Sounding Off: Battle of the "best" in online travel is just getting started
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: Battle of the "best" in online travel is just getting started
By PhocusWire | December 11, 2020
Let's not, for a moment, dampen the mood that has started creeping into the psyche of leaders in the online travel market in recent weeks. Read More
Q&A: Airbnb's Joe Gebbia talks milestone IPO
News / Online
Q&A: Airbnb's Joe Gebbia talks milestone IPO
By Jill Menze | December 11, 2020
Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia speaks to Airbnb's debut on the public markets, how it has adapted during the pandemic and the company’s long-term vision.  Read More
airbnb-vrbo-booking-grow-inventory
News / Online
How will Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and others grow their rental inventory?
By Mitra Sorrells | December 9, 2020
Vacation home sales are on the rise, but owners now have considerations beyond just bringing in revenue. Read More
VIDEO: Booking Holdings' Glenn Fogel on getting it right for a post-pandemic future
News / Online
VIDEO: Booking Holdings' Glenn Fogel on getting it right for a post-pandemic future
By Kevin May | December 7, 2020
When you're often at the center of the relationship between accommodation providers and consumers, or figuring out how best to connect all the elements together in a trip, being Booking Holdings during... Read More
Key questions facing Airbnb ahead of its IPO
Opinion / Online
Key questions facing Airbnb ahead of its IPO
By Pierre Becerril - Transparent | December 3, 2020
By redefining traveler expectations and establishing a new type of lodging, Airbnb built the second-most valuable travel company in the world in just a decade. Now, as public market investors consider... Read More
Booking Holdings boss talks pressure on hotels and the private accommodation trend
News / Distribution
Booking Holdings boss talks pressure on hotels and the private accommodation trend
By Linda Fox | November 20, 2020
Glenn Fogel discusses how changes in the lodging market could be beneficial to large distributors - meaning hotels could face an uphill battle ahead. Read More
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