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.

online-travel-agency-power-paradox-2
News / Online
Maintaining the power and influence of online travel agencies
By PhocusWire | October 4, 2018
One of the central tenets of the Power Paradox in travel is how some of the biggest brands ever assembled in the industry "have aggregated the content, established the trust and amassed the war chests... Read More
To win with online travel in Asia, go local (or go home)
News / Online
To win with online travel in Asia, go local (or go home)
By Siew Hoon Yeoh - WebInTravel | October 3, 2018
Developments in APAC will require different thinking and tactics on the part of foreign brands that wish to be part of the “next billion users” market. Read More
fareharbor-booking-lawrence-hester
News / Technology
VIDEO: FareHarbor on being acquired by Booking.com
By Kevin May | October 3, 2018
In what has been a transformative year for tours and activities, perhaps one development stood out more than any other. Read More
Hotels are right to be obsessed with direct bookings
Opinion / Distribution
Hotels are right to be obsessed with direct bookings
By Patrick Bosworth - Duetto | October 2, 2018
Because Airbnb, the online travel agencies and other billion-dollar third parties are waging an arms race to be the world’s biggest travel brand, hoteliers obviously want to optimize their booking... Read More
VIDEO: Two opposing views on Google's entry into tours and activities
News / Online
VIDEO: Two opposing views on Google's entry into tours and activities
By Kevin May | September 28, 2018
Google has always been involved in tours and activities - suppliers and online travel agencies would spend their digital marketing dollar with the search, as other brands do elsewhere in the industry. Read More
homeshare-hotels-learnings
News / Distribution
Why hotels should take cues from home-sharing, stop "obsession with direct booking"
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2018
Though traditional hotel operators have been beleaguered by the march of brands such as Airbnb, they have taken steps to embrace the trend in recent years. A good example is the Marriott... Read More
Home advantage - Amsterdam clicks for Booking.com event
News / Technology
Home advantage - Amsterdam clicks for Booking.com event
By Simone Puorto | September 20, 2018
This is a viewpoint by Simone Puorto Click, the two-day event organized by Booking.com, was held in this year in SugarCity, a former sugar factory (hence the name) transformed into a stylish exhibi Read More
Booking.com ODX blockchain internet marketplace
News / Technology
Booking.com will give data to consumers in emerging markets to access its site
By Mitra Sorrells | September 20, 2018
Booking.com has signed on to try a new blockchain-based data marketplace aimed at helping brands connect with users in emerging markets.   Read More
Booking.com expands Experiences service, now in 60 cities worldwide
News / Online
Booking.com expands Experiences service, now in 60 cities worldwide
By Kevin May | September 10, 2018
Booking.com's effort to muscle in on tours and activities has taken another sizeable step with the launch of Booking Experiences in the U.S.. Read More
Is there enough room for another one-stop shop like Airbnb?
News / Online
Is there enough room for another one-stop shop like Airbnb?
By Kevin May | August 29, 2018
It's worth remembering that Airbnb was the feisty little upstart of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry not too long ago - before it became a power player. Read More
ota hotel profitability
Opinion / Online
Online travel agency moves harming profitability: What hotels need to know
By Max Starkov - HEBS Digital | August 24, 2018
Two recent events in hotel distribution created a mild media buzz, but unfortunately were ignored by some hoteliers and quickly forgotten by the industry: Expedia’s Add‐On Advantage and Booking.Basic. Read More
booking holdings q2 earnings
News / Online
Booking Holdings closely monitoring paid channels as it builds direct strategy
By Linda Fox | August 9, 2018
Following the release of its Q2 financials, Booking Holdings says it's continuing its strategy of building its direct business as well as a wider travel offering. Read More
booking-holdings-ground-transport-hub
News / Distribution
Booking Holdings establishing hub in Manchester to grow ground transport division
By Linda Fox | August 8, 2018
As part of its experiences push, Booking Holdings is setting up a hub in Manchester, U.K., for its ground transportation division. Read More
Summer reading - five news stories you may have missed
News / Technology
Summer reading - five news stories you may have missed
By Simone Puorto | August 7, 2018
According to Amanda Johnson, teacher at Study.com, "Summer reading is critical to not only retain information but also to grow in knowledge and critical thinking skills". And, even though the study Read More
Startups part 1 investors' perspective
News / Startups
Surveying the travel startup landscape, part 1: The investors’ perspective
By Mitra Sorrells | August 7, 2018
This month we're digging into the topic of startups, aiming to understand the challenges and opportunities from the perspective of various players in the field, beginning with insights from venture... Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026