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 to go fishing in the Big Data lake of travel
News
How to go fishing in the Big Data lake of travel
By Pamela Whitby | June 27, 2014
If you are chief technology officer of one of the world biggest travel technology companies, you have to be a man on a mission. Edmond Mesrobian, CTO at Expedia Inc, is one such man, tasked as he i Read More
How much could consumer brands like Priceline disrupt the hotel technology market?
News / Distribution
How much could consumer brands like Priceline disrupt the hotel technology market?
By Sean O'Neil | June 25, 2014
This month, Priceline Group has been dropping several pieces into the business-to-business (B2B) puzzle. Might a hotel booking engine be next? Several experts Tnooz interviewed say a major onlin Read More
Booking.com hotel white label product hints at Priceline's B2B ambitions
News / Online
Booking.com hotel white label product hints at Priceline's B2B ambitions
By Sean O'Neil | June 24, 2014
Online travel agency powerhouse Booking.com hasn't publicized its latest white-label product, which, unlike most of its past efforts, is aimed at hotels instead of affiliates. Marketing materials f Read More
Priceline's acquisition of Buuteeq brings it right behind the hotel front desk
News / Distribution
Priceline's acquisition of Buuteeq brings it right behind the hotel front desk
By Viewpoints | June 19, 2014
Acquiring Buuteeq says a lot about how Priceline sees direct hotel bookings. It’s the future, it wants in but at what cost? NB: This is a viewpoint from Thibault Lecuyer, vice president, ecommerce Read More
Priceline buying OpenTable has very little to do with travel - it's just wiring up restaurants
News / Distribution
Priceline buying OpenTable has very little to do with travel - it's just wiring up restaurants
By Evan Konwiser | June 13, 2014
Contrary to popular belief, Priceline Group is not a travel company. Not anymore, at least. With the announcement of its acquisition of OpenTable, Priceline is now officially taking its expertise i Read More
What are the consequences of a world for hotels after rate parity?
News / Distribution
What are the consequences of a world for hotels after rate parity?
By Viewpoints | June 11, 2014
The French economy minister launched a legal action a few weeks back against the hotel booking site Booking.com. Arnaud Montebourg has called into question the alleged rate parity clause imposed by Read More
Are star ratings and other hotel industry classifications still relevant?
News / Online
Are star ratings and other hotel industry classifications still relevant?
By RJ Friedlander | May 20, 2014
Originally created to set expectations for hotel experiences, the star rating system and industry classifications like luxury, upscale or budget are increasingly coming under pressure for lack of rele Read More
TUI Travel says no threat to packages from OTAs
News / Distribution
TUI Travel says no threat to packages from OTAs
By Linda Fox | May 13, 2014
TUI Travel says there is no impact from online travel agencies despite their strategy to chase the package holiday market. Responding to an analyst question during half-year results ended 31 March Read More
Booking.com launches rental site Villas.com
News / Distribution
Booking.com launches rental site Villas.com
By Kevin May | May 13, 2014
Major product extension for Booking.com as it launches its first standalone brand in the guise of Villas.com. The Priceline-owned accommodation giant officially unveiled the site this week in a bid Read More
Women are embracing solo travel thanks, in part, to social media, says poll
News / Online
Women are embracing solo travel thanks, in part, to social media, says poll
By Sean O'Neil | April 29, 2014
Young women are vacationing alone more frequently, according to a new poll, which also finds that social media helps to provide a sense of comfort and companionship during solo travel. The survey, Read More
Dear tour operators, welcome to 2014 - online reviews drive bookings
News / Technology
Dear tour operators, welcome to 2014 - online reviews drive bookings
By Viewpoints | April 25, 2014
I feel a bit like a dinosaur. I’ve been in the user generated content (UGC) game since before the words "social Media", "Web 2.0", "Facebook" or "Twitter" existed. NB: This is a guest article by Tr Read More
Youth travel booking window reduces as mobile plays a key role
News / Technology
Youth travel booking window reduces as mobile plays a key role
By Karthick Prabu | April 11, 2014
About 50% of youth travel bookings are now made between one and three weeks in advance of the travel/stay date, according to a study. Safe Travel Accommodation for Youth (STAY) WYSE Association, the Read More
In defence of online travel agencies - they are not evil
News / Distribution
In defence of online travel agencies - they are not evil
By Viewpoints | March 31, 2014
There are multiple opinion pieces pushing ways in which hoteliers can free themselves from online travel agencies and increase their own direct bookings. NB: This is an analysis by Sabrina Lugo at Read More
Middle East travel industry - mobile and last-minute bookings kick in
News / Technology
Middle East travel industry - mobile and last-minute bookings kick in
By Siew Hoon Yeoh | March 18, 2014
In my recent visits to Dubai, I have sensed growing excitement around the nascent online space. The opportunities are huge and diverse in the Middle East travel sector. More investors are eying the Read More
Japan industrial tourism, Uber in Riyadh, Hotels.com states the obvious, and more
News / Online
Japan industrial tourism, Uber in Riyadh, Hotels.com states the obvious, and more
By PhocusWire | February 25, 2014
This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel MARKETING in tourism and hospitality for February 2014. Thursday 27 February 2014: Japan industrial tourism website launched A Read More
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