Booking Holdings May Buy More Companies and 7 Other Digital Trends This Week

CEO Hints Booking Holdings Is Ready to Buy More Companies: Falling victim to the so-called law of large numbers, Booking Holdings saw its total revenues for the first quarter drop 3 percent from the prior year. Industry ears perked up when CEO Glenn Fogel mentioned mergers and acquisitions as a possible tactic to reignite growth a few times during an investor conference call.

Amadeus Finds Fastest Growth Overseas in North America: Texas-based Sabre can no longer take for granted its home market of North America as Amadeus attempts to make inroads on the continent.

Inside the Clubby Business of Government Travel: A Skift Deep Dive. Navigating the world of government travel is so complex that it’s hard for outside companies to handle it. And even if they can, opportunities are slim for getting big contracts with tens of billions of dollars up for grabs.

TripAdvisor Reveals Some of Its Tactics in Growing Experiences: TripAdvisor’s key tactics to grow its tours and activities business include the discounting of some products for consumers, practically giving away a reservation system to operators, and rolling out a brand marketing campaign this year. The company talks like it’s in it to win it.

Google Expands Power Over Local Discovery and Travel Tools: It will be fascinating to see whether consumers embrace booking various elements of travel using Google Assistant. Perhaps more interesting is the way that Google Maps has become an all-purpose superapp in recent years.

TripAdvisor Reveals Details on Experiences and Restaurants Growth: TripAdvisor’s greater transparency in its financial reporting is to be applauded, showing its investment in growing units. But the stuttering of its legacy businesses is notable, too.

Booking Holdings Empire Tiptoes Toward Quiet Collaboration: As Booking Holdings brands try to cross-sell their customers on more products, such as attractions, restaurants, and ground transportation, more companywide collaboration may be inevitable. No brand mergers are in the offing, but signs point toward more coordination.

Tourlane Raises $47 Million for Multiday Tours: Travel Startup Funding This Week: Planning and booking complex international trips remains a pain point, and Tourlane, Skylark, and TravelLocal are part of a growing wave of companies attempting to provide savvier solutions for travelers. Plus: funding news for authentic souvenir aggregator Rare Planet, serviced apartments provider Mint House, and sustainable mobility tech provider TransitScreen.