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.

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
Priceline Group makes move into ground transportation with Rideways launch
News / Technology
Priceline Group makes move into ground transportation with Rideways launch
By Kevin May | November 8, 2016
Ground transportation is in the cross hairs of the Priceline Group as it starts rolling out a new brand known as Rideways. The service has been developed quietly within the RentalCars division of t Read More
Booking.com and BookingSuite: A lesson for hoteliers that is not about wars
News / Distribution
Booking.com and BookingSuite: A lesson for hoteliers that is not about wars
By Viewpoints | October 28, 2016
Throughout my career in revenue optimization for the hospitality and travel industry, I have always stressed the importance of owning your digital assets. This means having control of your domain, Read More
Expedia eyes alternative accommodation bounty, plots HomeAway integration
News / Distribution
Expedia eyes alternative accommodation bounty, plots HomeAway integration
By Kevin May | October 28, 2016
Expedia will begin including vacation rental listings from stablemate HomeAway in the next few months as the battle for alternative accommodation heats up. The online travel agency will finally hav Read More
Booking.com eyes Asia-Pacific for next move in global domination chess game
News / Distribution
Booking.com eyes Asia-Pacific for next move in global domination chess game
By Kevin May | October 20, 2016
Be warned, Asia-Pacific: Booking.com has big ambitions for the region and wants to replicate the success it had in Europe. The Priceline Group-owned online travel agency carved out a considerable p Read More
Ryanair launches new accommodation service, powered by many (including an old enemy)
News / Distribution
Ryanair launches new accommodation service, powered by many (including an old enemy)
By Kevin May | October 10, 2016
European low-cost giant Ryanair is gradually introducing a new accommodation platform, taking its inspiration in part from metasearch. Rather than having a single provider of hotel and rental produ Read More
Short-term stays could be the long-term strategy for hotels to counter Airbnb
News / Distribution
Short-term stays could be the long-term strategy for hotels to counter Airbnb
By Kevin May | October 6, 2016
A single datapoint contained in a Phocuswright study has illustrated where the hotel industry can fight back against the apparent rise of Airbnb et al. Obviously, the likes of Airbnb, HomeAway and Read More
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