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.

SOS alert to the travel industry! Tap the brakes on your Apple Watch investments
News / Technology
SOS alert to the travel industry! Tap the brakes on your Apple Watch investments
By Glenn Gruber | April 7, 2015
The allure of Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) is strong. And whether it be "a-loo-minium" or gold, Apple’s Watch is very shiny. We’re at a very interesting time with Apple Watch, about halfway between Read More
The unspoken reality of the online travel agency sector (hello, frenemies)
News / Distribution
The unspoken reality of the online travel agency sector (hello, frenemies)
By Kevin May | April 2, 2015
Should Booking.com and Expedia be worried about the formation of what is being touted as a "shift in the hierarchy" of the online travel agency world in Europe? The short answer: no. The merger Read More
Expedia's founder invests in Chinese reviews business
News / Distribution
Expedia's founder invests in Chinese reviews business
By Martin Cowen | March 27, 2015
Rich Barton, founder of Expedia, has confirmed his involvement in a Series C funding round for Mafengwo, a China-based  travel-focused social network. Barton told Tnooz: "Ultimately, China will be Read More
Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and American Airlines are all top performers on social
News / Online
Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and American Airlines are all top performers on social
By Nick Vivion | March 25, 2015
Ritz Carlton, Hyatt and American Airlines all perform well on social, at least according to the latest rankings by social media performance indexer eValue Analytics. The company provides a ranking Read More
How Expedia makes Scratchpad addictive: Electrodes are the new A/B tests
News / Online
How Expedia makes Scratchpad addictive: Electrodes are the new A/B tests
By Sean O'Neil | March 24, 2015
It is well known that Expedia Inc., the online travel titan, does thousands of tests on users of its websites to find out what does, and doesn't, work. In so-called "A/B testing," the company presents Read More
Why visual content can damage a travel brand
News / Online
Why visual content can damage a travel brand
By Viewpoints | March 24, 2015
Even beyond the debate over distribution, as a hotelier, marketing your property to consumers is essential. And one of the best ways to show off a hotel is with visual content. NB: This is an an Read More
TripAdvisor ramps up attractions strategy, shows why it splashed out $200 million on Viator
News / Distribution
TripAdvisor ramps up attractions strategy, shows why it splashed out $200 million on Viator
By Kevin May | March 20, 2015
TripAdvisor is embarking on a major strategy to woo providers of tours and activities to the platform, with promises of direct sales to consumers. Existing operators that are members of TripAdvisor Read More
The main event is now Priceline versus Expedia — so whose round is it?
News / Distribution
The main event is now Priceline versus Expedia — so whose round is it?
By Nick Vivion | March 19, 2015
The ongoing wave of industry consolidation among OTAs-in-pursuit has focused the crowd's attention on two formidable fighters: Expedia and Priceline. Both have developed into global juggernauts by Read More
How the Orbitz Expedia deal came together
News / Distribution
How the Orbitz Expedia deal came together
By Sean O'Neil | March 17, 2015
When Orbitz Worldwide announced a proposed acquisition by Expedia Inc last month, it had reached the end of a long series of attempts to try to sell itself, the Chicago-based company revealed in a reg Read More
Expedia's faux interns debunk Millennial myths with humor and panache
News / Online
Expedia's faux interns debunk Millennial myths with humor and panache
By Nick Vivion | March 16, 2015
Expedia is taking intern marketing mania to task with an entertaining ongoing marketing campaign that focuses on two actors portraying interns, who then answer questions submitted via social media. Read More
Priceline Group CEO confirms Rocketmiles deal
News
Priceline Group CEO confirms Rocketmiles deal
By Nick Vivion | March 10, 2015
After weeks of "no comments" and general shrugging of shoulders, Priceline Group's deal to buy Rocketmiles is official. Rocketmiles, which incentivizes hotel bookings through mileage bonuses with o Read More
Expedia CFO's global plan: acquire, invest, and consolidate
News / Distribution
Expedia CFO's global plan: acquire, invest, and consolidate
By Sean O'Neil | March 10, 2015
Mark Okerstrom, chief financial officer for Expedia Inc, loves doing deals. The more complex, the better, he says. In the past two years, the 42-year old lawyer led the company's successful acquisi Read More
Expedia eyes South America, invests $270 million in Decolar online travel agency
News
Expedia eyes South America, invests $270 million in Decolar online travel agency
By Kevin May | March 10, 2015
More strategic moves by Expedia Inc as it invests $270 million in South American online travel agencies Decolar and Despegar. The investment will give Expedia a minority stake of about 20% in the D Read More
Franchise hotels and the framing of online travel agencies
News
Franchise hotels and the framing of online travel agencies
By Viewpoints | February 27, 2015
For more than a decade, online travel agencies such as Expedia or Booking.com have been demonized by franchise chains for being too expensive. Is the criticism true, or is it possible that the OTAs Read More
Expedia spends $86.3 million to increase stake in AirAsia joint venture
News / Distribution
Expedia spends $86.3 million to increase stake in AirAsia joint venture
By Kevin May | February 17, 2015
Expedia Inc will now command a 75% ownership of its joint venture with AirAsia, after a cash injection of $86.3 million this week. The pair originally formed the partnership in March 2011 as a 50:5 Read More
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