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.

US watchdog approves Expedia merger with Orbitz
News / Distribution
US watchdog approves Expedia merger with Orbitz
By Sean O'Neil | September 16, 2015
Expedia Inc’s $1.3 billion deal to take over Orbitz Worldwide has received approval from the US Justice Department, after intenser-than-usual scrutiny. The merger of content between the online trav Read More
[UPDATED] American Airlines deepens its ties with Expedia by merchandising seats
News / Distribution
[UPDATED] American Airlines deepens its ties with Expedia by merchandising seats
By Sean O'Neil | September 3, 2015
My original headline for this article said AA "deepens its direct connect" with Expedia Inc. That was misleading. American Airlines spokesman Joshua Freed clarifies: "We expect Expedia will use a GDS Read More
TripAdvisor sells Kuxun brand and revises China strategy
News
TripAdvisor sells Kuxun brand and revises China strategy
By Kevin May | August 18, 2015
TripAdvisor has ended its ownership of Kuxun, a Beijing-based travel site, with a sale to consumer group-buying platform Meituan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It is the first major sale of Read More
Indian travellers want activities [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Distribution
Indian travellers want activities [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Martin Cowen | August 18, 2015
Nearly half of Indian travellers make their travel decisions based on the activities on offer rather than the destination itself, according to Expedia's Indian business. The survey is more of a sna Read More
Heat on Expedia-Orbitz deal continues but business as usual at Orbitz
News / Technology
Heat on Expedia-Orbitz deal continues but business as usual at Orbitz
By Linda Fox | August 12, 2015
The Expedia-Orbitz deal continues to receive pressure from various groups as it awaits approval from the US Department of Justice. About a week ago the American Hotel and Lodging Association expres Read More
Attitudes towards technology by corporate travellers (who also need a break)
News / Technology
Attitudes towards technology by corporate travellers (who also need a break)
By Kevin May | August 11, 2015
Corporate travellers are just hell-bent on making their meeting and breezing through airports and hotels with as few a hassles as possible. That much is true, but increasingly these busy types who Read More
Expedia-Orbitz deal gets a high profile naysayer
News / Distribution
Expedia-Orbitz deal gets a high profile naysayer
By Kevin May | August 6, 2015
Almost seven months since the proposed acquisition was first announced, a major lobbying group has come out against Expedia-Orbitz deal. The American Hotel and Lodging Association says it registeri Read More
Not happy campers: Agoda pulls all inventory from Trivago
News / Distribution
Not happy campers: Agoda pulls all inventory from Trivago
By Kevin May | August 6, 2015
Bit of an ugly spat brewing between metasearch engine Trivago and Agoda, the Asia-Pacific focused hotel booking site owned by the Priceline Group. Trivago, the Germany-based accommodation search si Read More
Intense testing and learning is now central to Expedia online strategy
News / Technology
Intense testing and learning is now central to Expedia online strategy
By Linda Fox | July 21, 2015
Expedia is gathering increasing data on customers and their behaviour using a "test and learn" process on its sites. The thinking behind "test and learn" is that anyone in the company, across all d Read More
Everything you need to know about Demand Generation for hotels
News / Online
Everything you need to know about Demand Generation for hotels
By Viewpoints | July 9, 2015
Demand generation has always been important to hotels, why else have sales departments? NB: This is an anaylsis by Max Rayner, a partner at Hudson Crossing. But lately it has gone from a functio Read More
How the UK differs from the US when engaging with content and booking in travel
News / Technology
How the UK differs from the US when engaging with content and booking in travel
By Nick Vivion | July 1, 2015
The UK is quite different than the US when it comes to engaging with travel content and making bookings, a recent report from Expedia Media Solutions has found. Tablets continue to grow share in th Read More
Expedia joins Booking.com to scale back on hotel rate parity
News / Distribution
Expedia joins Booking.com to scale back on hotel rate parity
By Kevin May | July 1, 2015
Expedia is to axe clauses relating to rate parity in contracts with all its European hotel customers. In what could be seen as another landmark moment in the ongoing rate parity debate in Europe, E Read More
Despite setbacks, Expedia CEO sees a bright future in activities, China and vacation rentals
News / Technology
Despite setbacks, Expedia CEO sees a bright future in activities, China and vacation rentals
By Nick Vivion | June 30, 2015
In a candid one-on-one, Expedia boss Dara Khosrowshahi shared his thoughts on tours and activities, China, vacation rentals and the company's growth with Trivago, Travelocity, and — hopefully soon — O Read More
Ignore the hyperbole: SEO is alive and kicking in travel (even for the small guys)
News / Distribution
Ignore the hyperbole: SEO is alive and kicking in travel (even for the small guys)
By Viewpoints | June 23, 2015
"SEO is dead" is a well-known catchphrase, most commonly heard from newly unemployed spam merchants in bitter reaction to Google’s latest algorithm update. NB: This is an analysis by Matthew Barker Read More
Priceline Group pumps in additional $250 million into Ctrip
News / Distribution
Priceline Group pumps in additional $250 million into Ctrip
By Kevin May | May 26, 2015
Just days after Expedia Inc reduced its focus on China, Priceline Group has injected a quarter of a billion dollars in Ctrip. The $250 million investment comes less than a year after the Booking.co Read More
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