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.

Expedia Q3 earnings 2018
News / Distribution
Expedia records another positive quarter, double-digit growth in revenue and bookings
By Mitra Sorrells | October 25, 2018
Expedia Group saw its gross booking increased $2.5 billion, or 11% year-over-year, in the third quarter of 2018, fueled by growth in Brand Expedia, HomeAway, Hotels.com and Expedia Partner Solutions.... Read More
Expedia talks up its transactional voice first on Google Assistant
News / Technology
Expedia talks up its transactional voice first on Google Assistant
By Martin Cowen | October 10, 2018
Expedia has made voice commerce in travel a reality with the the launch of a new Expedia Action on Google Assistant which allows users to book a hotel using voice. By linking an Expedia account to Read More
Expedia Google Assistant book action
News / Distribution
Expedia creates Google Assistant browse and book capability
By Mitra Sorrells | October 9, 2018
Expedia is expanding its voice technology integrations with a new “Expedia Action” on Google Assistant.   Read More
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
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
Offline part 3 tours and activities
News / Technology
Back in the offline world, part 3: Tours and activities
By Mitra Sorrells | September 17, 2018
 2018 may be remembered as a tipping point for the digitization of the tours and activities sector within the global travel industry.  Read More
Google launches Touring Bird with 25,000 experiences in 20 cities
News / Online
Google launches Touring Bird with 25,000 experiences in 20 cities
By Jill Menze | September 7, 2018
In April, PhocusWire uncovered details of Touring Bird, the hush-hush tours and activities app Google was developing inside its Area 120 incubator. Now Touring Bird has officially launched 25,000... 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
Revenue and loyalty for vacation rentals in the age of Amazon and Google
Opinion / Online
Revenue and loyalty for vacation rentals in the age of Amazon and Google
By Mike Putman - Custom Travel Solutions | August 23, 2018
The accommodations market has expanded over the past decade, in part due to the growing vacation rental sector. However, nobody quite knows how vacation rentals will fit into the larger travel ecosystem... Read More
Online accounts for 80% of under-30s travel bookings, OTAs dominate (for now)
News / Technology
Online accounts for 80% of under-30s travel bookings, OTAs dominate (for now)
By Rob Gill | August 22, 2018
Online travel agents (OTAs) are the most popular option for booking flights and accommodation within the youth and student market. A survey of more than 57,000 travellers aged under 30 by WYSE Trav Read More
Thomas Cook talks up Expedia deal, TUI talks up its app
News / Technology
Thomas Cook talks up Expedia deal, TUI talks up its app
By Rob Gill | August 21, 2018
Thomas Cook is to extend its “white label” online booking partnership with Expedia across European markets over the next few months. The tour operator started selling Expedia’s city break and hotel Read More
Expedia Group pays $60M to buy out AirAsia from AirAsiaGo platform
News / Online
Expedia Group pays $60M to buy out AirAsia from AirAsiaGo platform
By Kevin May | August 14, 2018
An investment of $60 million has brought to an end a seven-year joint venture between Expedia Group and AirAsia to sell the airline's tickets alongside hotels. Read More
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