Expedia News

Hardly a surprise that Sparks, who was brought in to resurrect the brand, would depart after it has basically given up.

Lawsuits didn't kill hotel rate parity. Instead, it is Big Data, analytics, advertsiing retargeting and personalization that are making enforcement of rate-parity provisions almost untenable.

Travelocity talked years ago about getting into the advertising and media business in a big way, but never made it happen. But, now Expedia has grand plans to use Travelocity's North America sites as a platform to expanding Expedia's own advertising and media business in tandem with the jolt that Trivago is already providing.

Trivago is the all-star in the Expedia stable, and saw its revenue rise year over year at an 80% clip in the first quarter of 2014.

HomeAway is not about to be another Booking.com, but Google is going to get a new and large global customer when the vacation rental site ramps up its search engine marketing, probably next year.

Expedia led the latest funding round of Room 77, but obviously didn't view an outright acquisition as advantageous. Expedia already has Trivago, which doesn't want to get distracted as it continues to grow and tear up Europe.

Malaysia Airlines reportedly has taken some unspecified steps to enhance security onboard its flights. This likely won't do much to change Qunar's stance in the short term until the cause of MH370's disappearance has been detailed.

It was careless for Expedia previously to claim it was the globe's biggest travel site. You'd think it would have been more precise about its boasts, and in its latest ads it narrows its claim and documents it. TripAdvisor assuredly is happier now.

The Expedia.com homepage redesign is trendy and artsy, with lots of open space and a search widget placed on top of an inspirational photo. Simplicity, photo-led search and responsive design are trending now -- until the next big thing comes along.

Priceline could execute an expensive acquisition of HomeAway if it wants to, and is in a better position to do so than Expedia or any other travel brand.