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.

In defence of online travel agencies - they are not evil
News / Distribution
In defence of online travel agencies - they are not evil
By Viewpoints | March 31, 2014
There are multiple opinion pieces pushing ways in which hoteliers can free themselves from online travel agencies and increase their own direct bookings. NB: This is an analysis by Sabrina Lugo at Read More
How Expedia's homepage design evolved to today's full revamp
News / Online
How Expedia's homepage design evolved to today's full revamp
By Sean O'Neil | March 25, 2014
Online travel agency Expedia.com today unveiled a fresh homepage design for its US website. The Expedia homepage redesign features a "fully responsive design" -- meaning it works better on tablets Read More
Travelport scoops AirAsia for distribution as low cost carrier renaissance continues
News / Distribution
Travelport scoops AirAsia for distribution as low cost carrier renaissance continues
By Kevin May | March 24, 2014
AirAsia will be the latest low cost carrier to join the ranks of legacy airlines on the GDS, following another coup for Travelport which agreed a deal with the airline this week. The Asia-Pacific a Read More
Middle East travel industry - mobile and last-minute bookings kick in
News / Technology
Middle East travel industry - mobile and last-minute bookings kick in
By Siew Hoon Yeoh | March 18, 2014
In my recent visits to Dubai, I have sensed growing excitement around the nascent online space. The opportunities are huge and diverse in the Middle East travel sector. More investors are eying the Read More
Trivago extends mystery guest programme to combat fake reviews
News / Distribution
Trivago extends mystery guest programme to combat fake reviews
By Linda Fox | March 14, 2014
Trivago is extending its Hotel Test scheme to the UK and Ireland after its initial launch in Germany last year. The mystery guest programme has a number of elements. Users sign up as a hotel tester Read More
Can the newbies of tours and activities sweep aside the old kids on the block?
News / Online
Can the newbies of tours and activities sweep aside the old kids on the block?
By Viewpoints | March 13, 2014
Recent fundraising by GetYourGuide and Peek is good news for the tours and activities sector. These investments reflect the growing awareness that "the things you do when you get there" are a crucial Read More
Orbitz buys private label division of Travelocity
News / Online
Orbitz buys private label division of Travelocity
By Kevin May | February 28, 2014
More breaking up of a mainstay of the online travel industry, with Travelocity offloading its white label business to rival online travel agency Orbitz. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Or Read More
150 million reviews now on TripAdvisor (some 14 years old)
News / Online
150 million reviews now on TripAdvisor (some 14 years old)
By Kevin May | February 26, 2014
TripAdvisor, given its eye-watering size these days, has plenty of milestones to shout about - not least this week when it announced 150 million reviews are now on the site. The company says this i Read More
Japan industrial tourism, Uber in Riyadh, Hotels.com states the obvious, and more
News / Online
Japan industrial tourism, Uber in Riyadh, Hotels.com states the obvious, and more
By PhocusWire | February 25, 2014
This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel MARKETING in tourism and hospitality for February 2014. Thursday 27 February 2014: Japan industrial tourism website launched A Read More
eLong reports record high annual revenue, mobile hotel bookings jump
News
eLong reports record high annual revenue, mobile hotel bookings jump
By Karthick Prabu | February 19, 2014
eLong has reported a net revenue of $43.1 million for its fourth quarter 2013, an increase of 25% over the same period in 2012. The highlight of the financial results was Expedia-backed eLong's net Read More
OTAs are winning the battle but maybe not the hotel distribution war
News / Distribution
OTAs are winning the battle but maybe not the hotel distribution war
By Viewpoints | February 12, 2014
OTAs cannibalising direct hotel sales isn't surprising, and boils down to two things: the range of offers and the ability to put huge marketing clout into driving custom. But, last week's article ( Read More
Is travel ecommerce reaching a saturation point?
News / Technology
Is travel ecommerce reaching a saturation point?
By Timothy O'Neil-Dunne | February 10, 2014
Travel ecommerce (online travel, digital travel - the terms often vary) has been on a roll for quite a while now. The emergence of technology-fueled travel ecommerce can be traced back to the 1995/ Read More
Expedia tapping into business-leisure travel fuzziness
News / Online
Expedia tapping into business-leisure travel fuzziness
By Linda Fox | February 10, 2014
Expedia big boss Dara Khosrowshahi was in London last week banging the drum about the blurring of lines between leisure and business travel. Social sharing and technology developments are making th Read More
Expedia plays down search visibility drama, constantly audits SEO practices
News / Online
Expedia plays down search visibility drama, constantly audits SEO practices
By Kevin May | February 7, 2014
After Expedia insisted on an inevitable "no comment" for weeks, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was always going to face questions during its latest financial results about the search saga. Expedia.com was r Read More
Entering the next phase of mobile commerce in the travel industry
News / Technology
Entering the next phase of mobile commerce in the travel industry
By Glenn Gruber | February 4, 2014
Mobile commerce continues to grow at a fast pace. According to eMarketer, mobile commerce or mCommerce constitutes $41.68 billion of the total $262.3 billion of ecommerce sales for 2013 or an incre Read More
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