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.

How could airlines, hotels, agencies, and platforms share data with less friction?
News / Distribution
How could airlines, hotels, agencies, and platforms share data with less friction?
By Sean O'Neil | June 14, 2016
Travelers hope to be respected as the individuals they are. But too often, their booking experiences are homogeneous and impersonal — and so are their flights and hotel stays. One explanation is th Read More
Ryanair and Booking.com end deal ahead of new Rooms service launch
News / Distribution
Ryanair and Booking.com end deal ahead of new Rooms service launch
By Kevin May | June 9, 2016
Booking.com will no longer power the accommodation platform of the Ryanair website from the end of September this year. The European low-cost carrier has worked with the Priceline Group-owned Booki Read More
Dazed and confused by another Millennials survey [UPDATED]
News / Distribution
Dazed and confused by another Millennials survey [UPDATED]
By Martin Cowen | June 9, 2016
Another day, another survey about Millennials. And for travel businesses looking to target people aged between 18 and 34, it's getting confusing. Adara is behind the latest research,  looking at th Read More
City Discovery takes animal welfare stance, demands big players must follow
News / Online
City Discovery takes animal welfare stance, demands big players must follow
By Kevin May | May 27, 2016
The recent criticism of those who sell online tickets to attractions that are accused of mistreating animals has forced City Discovery to make a policy change. The France-based tours and activities Read More
Busbud seizes B2B opportunity, hires Expedia exec
News / Distribution
Busbud seizes B2B opportunity, hires Expedia exec
By Kevin May | May 24, 2016
More evidence that bus networks are becoming one of the new battlegrounds for digital distribution, with Busbud launching white label services. The Canada-based company will allow third parties to Read More
Inside Expedia’s Usability Lab, consumer behavior provides insights
News / Online
Inside Expedia’s Usability Lab, consumer behavior provides insights
By Rob Lovitt | May 23, 2016
When booking hotel rooms, French travelers want to know if breakfast is included. Asian travelers are concerned about closet size, and US travelers tend not to sweat the small stuff. Generalization Read More
Travel apps lag behind mobile web for finding travel information
News / Technology
Travel apps lag behind mobile web for finding travel information
By Kevin May | May 19, 2016
A major study of search and booking behaviour has found that applications come second best when it comes to how consumers access travel information on devices. The Expedia Media Solutions examinati Read More
Layaway for getaways: Expedia will allow monthly installment payments on hotel bookings
News / Online
Layaway for getaways: Expedia will allow monthly installment payments on hotel bookings
By Sean O'Neil | May 18, 2016
Soon, for hotel reservations worth more than $200 on its US Expedia.com flagship site, Expedia, Inc., will begin offering a flexible-payment option, where a consumer could book now but pay in monthly Read More
European independent hotels - tech adoption, distribution issues, and being different from US
News / Distribution
European independent hotels - tech adoption, distribution issues, and being different from US
By Kevin May | May 17, 2016
Commission fees and a fear of relying too much on online travel agencies are two of the major issues that are troubling independent hotels in Europe. Those are some the findings from a major study Read More
Egencia says no demand for alternative accommodation, retiring Orbitz For Business
News / Distribution
Egencia says no demand for alternative accommodation, retiring Orbitz For Business
By Kevin May | May 16, 2016
Egencia has not provided rentals and other types of alternative accommodation, as there has yet to be a significant call for it from business travellers. The Expedia Inc-owned corporate travel agen Read More
Online will be most popular travel booking channel in Europe by 2017
News / Distribution
Online will be most popular travel booking channel in Europe by 2017
By Kevin May | May 12, 2016
It is often easy (maybe even convenient) to forget that the majority of travel bookings are still made offline and not via the internet. But within 18 months, Europe will be the first region on the Read More
Expedia's view: Publicly available loyalty rates may be bad for hotel owners
From Our Partners / Distribution
Expedia's view: Publicly available loyalty rates may be bad for hotel owners
By Sponsored Content | May 12, 2016
Last week's #ExpediaMarketplace Tweet chat covered a number of relevant industry topics, such as how hotel visibility works in the marketplace and how the new Accelerator tool comes into play. NB T Read More
As Expedia turns 20, its executives talk about what's next
News / Distribution
As Expedia turns 20, its executives talk about what's next
By Rob Lovitt | May 12, 2016
With apologies to The Beatles, it was 20 years ago today (give or take a few months) that a small team on Microsoft’s campus in Redmond, Wash., launched a little product called Expedia.com, designed t Read More
VCs highlight over and under-invested travel sectors
News / Online
VCs highlight over and under-invested travel sectors
By Kevin May | May 11, 2016
Any new travel business plotting to capture some of the action in the rental and sharing sector should probably think again. Or, at the very least, they should not be assuming the financial backers Read More
IHG turns the screw on agencies with direct-booking swipe
News / Distribution
IHG turns the screw on agencies with direct-booking swipe
By Kevin May | May 9, 2016
InterContinental Hotels Group is the latest mega-chain to make a major effort to turn travellers away from the "purse-stretching" online travel agencies. The group is pushing a major new campaign t Read More