Online Travel News

These articles delve into the latest trends, technologies, and strategies that are shaping the online booking landscape, ensuring that industry insiders stay informed and prepared for change. These stories cover essential topics such as the development of innovative booking platforms, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in personalizing travel options, and the impact of mobile technology on customer behavior. Additionally, the news stories highlight the growing importance of user-generated content and reviews in shaping consumer decisions, and the role of social media in the online travel booking ecosystem. Skift’s stories examine the competitive landscape and offer insights into the successes and challenges faced by major online travel agencies (OTAs), startups, and traditional travel companies transitioning to the digital space.

Online Travel

Expedia CEO Talks Hopper Breakup, One Key Loyalty, and Vrbo Host Penalties

Peter Kern stood by the decision about the split with Hopper, but he said other partners shouldn't worry — as long as they play by the rules.

Expedia CEO Talks Hopper Breakup, One Key Loyalty, and Vrbo Host Penalties

Online Travel

Booking.com Extends Contract With eTraveli, Warns About Overregulation

Booking Holding's acquisition of eTraveli serves as a litmus test for how far regulatory bodies can go to curb market consolidation.

Booking.com Extends Contract With eTraveli, Warns About Overregulation

Online Travel

Hopper Contracts With Hotel Bedbanks After Losing Expedia Partnership

Few believed Hopper's statement in July that losing the Expedia partnership would have no impact. Now we know that Hopper began working on hotel deals to make itself whole and expand.

Hopper Contracts With Hotel Bedbanks After Losing Expedia Partnership

Online Travel

Agoda to Offer Travel Booking Services to Snapdeal Customers

Indian e-commerce platforms are diversifying services by integrating travel offerings to address a broader spectrum of consumer demands. This collaboration also helps online travel agencies to broaden their presence and accessibility within the Indian market.

Agoda to Offer Travel Booking Services to Snapdeal Customers

Online Travel

Booking To Appeal EU Commission’s Veto Over eTraveli deal

This move follows after Booking sent a confidential memo to the authorities challenging their decision, and laying out details for why the company thinks the commission's arguments are flawed.

Booking To Appeal EU Commission’s Veto Over eTraveli deal

Online Travel

Booking Sends European Commission Memo to Fight For eTraveli Deal

This is might be called Booking Holdings statement of objections to the EC’s statement of objections to the eTraveli deal. This dust-up is heading for the courts.

Booking Sends European Commission  Memo to Fight For eTraveli Deal

Online Travel

Expedia Group’ EG Labs Will Let You Test New AI Products

EG Labs, which would provide a way for consumers to provide feedback for Expedia Group product betas, is itself a test. It seems as though an active feedback loop would provide more insights than merely observing user behavior.

Expedia Group’ EG Labs Will Let You Test New AI Products

News Blog

Booking.com Is Launching a U.S. Credit Card – Who’ll Be Its Partner?

Booking.com hasn't announced a deal to launch a co-branded credit card in the U.S., but a LinkedIn post Tuesday by a relatively new employee and a job opening for "manager, co-branded credit card growth & strategy," provided grist for speculation. In the LinkedIn post, Jonathan Rossman, whose position is listed as "co-brand credit card at…

Online Travel

MakeMyTrip’s Corporate Travel Offering, MyBiz, Gains Traction

Had it not been for quite a few differentiators, it would be impossible for MyBiz to surpass the 50,000-client user base mark within just four years of operations.

MakeMyTrip’s Corporate Travel Offering, MyBiz, Gains Traction

News Blog

South Africa to Launch Short-Term Rental Register

South Africa's ministry of tourism and Airbnb have announced a partnership to regulate the country's short-term rental industry. This agreement will include the introduction of a voluntary national registration system to help the South African government understand the rental business better. The country's tourism minister Patrcia de Lille said, "Insufficient information is available about the…