Uber as Next Travel Powerhouse? Highly Doubtful
Skift Take
Dennis' Online Travel Briefing
Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, Executive Editor and online travel rockstar Dennis Schaal will bring readers exclusive reporting and insight into the business of online travel and digital booking, and how this sector has an impact across the travel industry.What is the first thing people do when planning that dream vacation? Is it to figure out which car or train will take them from the airport to the hotel? Well, not exactly — or let's say, never.
Keep that in mind when you digest the news that rideshare and food delivery company Uber plans to add flights to its UK app later this year, and hotels at some unspecified date after that. As one earlier step in its product expansion, Uber's UK app likewise intends to tack on national rail and coach transportation this summer.
A travel industry veteran, who didn't know about the announcement but heard rumors of some "big Uber travel news," when appraised of the company's plans said, "That's it? That's all?"
In the same vein, feel free to disregard or be skeptical about Uber's statement that it "plans to become a one-stop shop for door-to-door travel."
Despite the CNBC headline, "Uber looks to create travel ‘superapp’ by adding planes, trains and rental cars," does Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, the former CEO of Expedia Group and still a board member, just toggle a switch, a
