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Escapia appoints Joel Schoen as general manager
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Escapia, Expedia Group’s property management software platform, has appointed Joel Schoen as general manager.
Expedia CEO says AI is a growth opportunity despite agentic booking threat
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin has said artificial intelligence presents a growth opportunity rather than a threat to online travel agencies, despite the company acknowledging the rise of agentic AI as a competitive risk.
Vrbo uses AI and booking data to localise summer travel marketing
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Vrbo is using generative artificial intelligence alongside booking and search data to create localised marketing campaigns as it looks to drive summer travel demand across key markets.
Expedia Group combines B2B and supply operations under Alfonso Paredes
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group has combined its B2B and global supply organisations under a single leadership structure as the company continues expanding its platform and partner business.
Uber to add Vrbo vacation rental bookings to app later in 2026
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: Uber will add vacation rentals via Vrbo later this year.
Expedia extends BNPL partnership with Affirm
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Expedia Group and Affirm have announced an expanded multi-year partnership that makes Affirm the exclusive buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider for lodging and travel packages across Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Expedia Group on Vrbo’s evolution and what rising traveller expectations mean for the industry
Reading Time: 2 minutesLast month, Expedia Group announced a series of updates to the Vrbo platform, including broader exposure for Vrbo listings across the company’s brand. This includes visibility on its flagship Expedia brand as well as through a B2B distribution network of more than 70,000 businesses and 160,000 travel agents. With these changes designed to improve discoverability, […]
Expedia Group reveals 2026 travel trends in new ‘Unpack’ report
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group has unveiled Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel, its latest annual report highlighting the key shifts shaping global tourism next year. Drawing on insights from more than 24,000 global travellers, the report identifies seven core trends from salvaged hotels and farm stays to book club retreats and AI-powered destination stewardship all reflecting […]
ChatGPT launches travel apps with Expedia and Booking.com
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: OpenAI has launched third-party apps within ChatGPT, starting with travel giants Expedia and Booking.com, allowing users to research and book trips directly through the chatbot. The move follows the launch of OpenAI’s new Apps SDK (software development kit), which enables developers to create integrated experiences within ChatGPT. The feature opens ChatGPT’s 800-million-strong user base […]
Vrbo introduces full penalties for hosts who leave guests stranded
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Vacation rental platform Vrbo will begin imposing 100 per cent penalties on US hosts who fail to provide guests access to a booked property, starting October 1.