Expedia News and Updates

Expedia Group is one of the most influential players in online travel, with a portfolio of brands and platforms that shape the digital booking landscape. PhocusWire provides timely, in-depth coverage of Expedia news and updates, including leadership changes, platform innovation, and shifts in its global strategy across lodging, air, and experiences.

The latest developments from Expedia and the OTA market

Track how Expedia is evolving its technology stack, streamlining traveler engagement, and reimagining its marketplace to compete in a rapidly changing OTA environment. Our reporting includes insights on product development, loyalty integration, and strategic partnerships that reflect broader trends in online travel retail.

VIDEO: What Google's overhaul of hotel booking ads really means
News / Distribution
VIDEO: What Google's overhaul of hotel booking ads really means
By Kevin May | March 9, 2021
We speak to hotel consultancy and digital marketing specialist Mirai's CEO, Pablo Delgado, to understand what the development means for all players in the hotel marketing ecosystem, including Google's... Read More
Hotels want to capitalize on the direct trend - but for how long?
News / Online
Hotels want to capitalize on the direct trend - but for how long?
By Linda Fox | March 8, 2021
Hotel giants are looking to push their loyalty schemes to continue any advantage in direct bookings built up over the pandemic. Read More
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
Why Expedia Group used a hackathon to spotlight diversity and inclusion
News / Technology
Why Expedia Group used a hackathon to spotlight diversity and inclusion
By Jill Menze | February 19, 2021
Expedia Group employees used data and logic to drive proactive and practical action around diversity and inclusion. Read More
expedia-q4-2020-earnings
News / Online
Expedia Group pulls Vrbo from Google’s vacation rental metasearch product
By Mitra Sorrells | February 11, 2021
Expedia Group's revenue and gross bookings were both down 67% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Read More
Expedia opens up discount rates to COVID-hit travel agency partners
News / Distribution
Expedia opens up discount rates to COVID-hit travel agency partners
By Kevin May | February 3, 2021
The company's affiliate program, which has around 10,000 agency partners, will be opened up so that exclusive rates for hotel and air ticket packages are available for all. Read More
sightseeing-future-experiences
Opinion / Technology
Four trends that could define the future of sightseeing and experiences
By Alex Bainbridge - Autoura | January 21, 2021
What were the key moments in 2020 in tours and activities, beyond the complete destruction of our collective livelihoods caused by COVID? Read More
VIDEO: Peter Kern on how COVID gave Expedia Group “courage”
News / Online
VIDEO: Peter Kern on how COVID gave Expedia Group “courage”
By Jill Menze | December 29, 2020
Speaking at his first Phocuswright Conference since assuming leadership of Expedia Group, Peter Kern discussed the company's multi-brand strategy, Google and more. Read More
Expedia scales back strategy on activities
News / Online
Expedia scales back strategy on activities
By Kevin May | December 21, 2020
The company confirmed that its in-person operations in Hawaii and Orlando - two key markets to push tours, activities and attractions to visitors - will be closed. 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
Expedia Group CEO wants to be "the best travel tech platform in the world"
News / Online
Expedia Group CEO wants to be "the best travel tech platform in the world"
By Jill Menze | December 10, 2020
At Expedia Group’s virtual Explore event, CEO Peter Kern outlined how playing to Expedia Group’s strengths will help the company and its partners recover from the impact of the coronavirus crisis. 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
Airbnb's IPO registration shows it's ready to join the big leagues
News / Online
Airbnb's IPO registration shows it's ready to join the big leagues
By Kevin May | November 17, 2020
On the eve of its debut on the public markets, documents filed this week indicate that it is ready move in comfortably alongside the likes of Expedia Group and Booking Holdings. Read More
Travel companies ask European regulators to enforce Google dominance decision
News / Online
Travel companies ask European regulators to enforce Google dominance decision
November 16, 2020
In a letter to the commissioner for competition, 130 companies and 28 industry organizations, across numerous sectors, ask the Commission to enforce its 2017 abuse of dominance decision. Read More
expedia-group-q3-2020
News / Online
Expedia Group Q3 “better than expected,” Vrbo up YoY
By Mitra Sorrells | November 4, 2020
Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern says the company intends to be "more bold" on pushing the Vrbo brand while it also pursues a broad cost-cutting strategy. Read More
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