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.

HomeAway removes last remnant of independent guest-owner interaction
News / Online
HomeAway removes last remnant of independent guest-owner interaction
By Kevin May | January 31, 2017
HomeAway has split opinion over its decision to alter the way in which potential guests can interact with a property's owner. At the turn of 2017, HomeAway shifted the ability for a traveller to fi Read More
Winners and losers in the US travel website marketplace
News / Online
Winners and losers in the US travel website marketplace
By Kevin May | January 18, 2017
Airbnb ended 2016 ahead of Booking.com for the first time in visitor numbers on US travel websites, although Expedia remains ahead of both. Data released by audience tracking service SimilarWeb saw Read More
Ciao, Venere - Expedia closes headwind-facing hotel booking site
News / Distribution
Ciao, Venere - Expedia closes headwind-facing hotel booking site
By Kevin May | January 9, 2017
Venere - the European hotel site once considered to be a part of Expedia's attempt to counter the rise of Booking.com - is no more. Expedia Inc confirmed earlier reports into its demise, saying the Read More
Hilton joins the Instant Booking fray on TripAdvisor
News / Distribution
Hilton joins the Instant Booking fray on TripAdvisor
By Kevin May | January 9, 2017
Some momentum in recent weeks for TripAdvisor and its Instant Booking service - with global hotel group Hilton finally joining the initiative. Hilton's portfolio of 13 brands will now be available Read More
Private accommodation travel bookings to reach $106 billion by 2018
News / Distribution
Private accommodation travel bookings to reach $106 billion by 2018
By Kevin May | January 3, 2017
Private accommodation will account for almost a fifth of global hospitality bookings within two years - and the online travel agency giants are tipped to benefit. In terms of figures, financial ana Read More
TripAdvisor gets Instant Booking nod from Expedia
News / Distribution
TripAdvisor gets Instant Booking nod from Expedia
By Kevin May | December 20, 2016
Just over 12 months on from what was heralded as a major development in its drive to offer Instant Bookings for hotels, TripAdvisor has now inked a deal with Expedia Inc. The Priceline Group was th Read More
How Airbnb reckons it can change the traveller experience
News / Distribution
How Airbnb reckons it can change the traveller experience
By Viewpoints | December 19, 2016
There has been a great deal of discussion around what the launch of Trips means for Airbnb... and for travel more broadly (if anything). Commentary has come from all quarters, both within the compa Read More
Airbnb demand increasingly hitting hotels, not online travel agencies
News / Distribution
Airbnb demand increasingly hitting hotels, not online travel agencies
By Kevin May | December 12, 2016
Use of Airbnb is growing faster than industry commentators predicted, with hotels the main losers in the new accommodation war. A large survey and follow-up analysis by global financial services gi Read More
Partnerships are the way to fight scale, BTO audience told
News / Distribution
Partnerships are the way to fight scale, BTO audience told
By Martin Cowen | December 5, 2016
When execs from Priceline, Booking.com, Expedia and Google take turns to speak at a travel conference, the audience can become blinded (if not terrified) by the numbers bandied about. At last week' Read More
Booking.com quietly closes Villas.com rental brand
News / Distribution
Booking.com quietly closes Villas.com rental brand
By Kevin May | December 1, 2016
"Test and learn" is the official message behind Booking.com's decision to shut down the Villas.com standalone vacation rentals brand this week. The Priceline Group-owned accommodation giant says th Read More
Is there a thawing in the hotel and OTA relationship?
News / Distribution
Is there a thawing in the hotel and OTA relationship?
By Linda Fox | November 29, 2016
There's been a subtle change in tone from some quarters when you ask hotels about the power of online travel agencies or how those OTAs feel about hotels driving business direct. What used to almos Read More
Priceline Group predicts rise of travel besties - smart tech that understands traveller needs
News / Online
Priceline Group predicts rise of travel besties - smart tech that understands traveller needs
By Kevin May | November 21, 2016
"Instant Gratification 2.0" is how the Priceline Group is defining how tech will influence travellers as they look for and interact with travel brands. The industry powerhouse behind companies such Read More
How to burst the bubble of Airbnb Trips in two phone calls
News / Distribution
How to burst the bubble of Airbnb Trips in two phone calls
By Viewpoints | November 21, 2016
Last week Airbnb released what is essentially its first new product since the company's inception in 2008. The absolute leader in peer-to-peer rentals and a flagship innovator in the share economy, Read More
eDreams Odigeo strategy overhaul pays modest dividends
News / Distribution
eDreams Odigeo strategy overhaul pays modest dividends
By Kevin May | November 18, 2016
European online travel agency group eDreams Odigeo has credited mobile activity and improvements to its business model for an uplift in revenue. The company brought in €241 million in revenue in th Read More
Booking.com creates platform for travel agents
News / Distribution
Booking.com creates platform for travel agents
By Kevin May | November 8, 2016
Booking.com has officially opened up its service for offline travel agencies to search and book accommodation on behalf of travellers. The Priceline Group-owned brand has launched Booking.com For T Read More
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