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Expedia Group unifies loyalty programmes into unique rewards platform
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group has announced plans to unify and expand the respective loyalty programmes across its brands into one global rewards platform. Claiming to have more than 145 million members across its current and separate rewards programmes, Expedia Group says that its customers will be able to benefit from unique member pricing discounts and the […]
Price no longer the primary driver of travel decisions
Reading Time: 4 minutesUS: New research by Expedia Group has revealed shifting views on travel, including positive sentiment on vaccine passports, increased budgets, and an enduring demand for safety and financial security. The Traveller Value Index examined the views of 8,000 people in eight countries to understand their values and expectations as the pandemic becomes more controlled in many parts of the […]
Vrbo and TripAdvisor update traveller safety policies
Reading Time: 2 minutesWorldwide: Short-term rental platforms, including Vrbo [an Expedia Group brand] and TripAdvisor, are tightening their safety policies for travellers in the wake of allegations of violent crimes taking place at Airbnb listings. The former has made the decision to ban hosts from leaving keys in public places “where the owner, property manager or staff is […]
Airbnb and Vrbo partner to tackle party houses
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Airbnb has teamed up with Expedia Group’s Vrbo to take care of “disruptive party houses” by developing the Community Integrity Program. In an industry collaboration, Airbnb and Vrbo will develop the Community Integrity Program. Working alongside a third-party intermediary, the two companies will build a process that “identifies properties that have been permanently removed from […]
Expedia appoints new CTO and brand president
Reading Time: 3 minutesUS: Expedia Group has announced the appointment of Rathi Murthy as the company’s chief technology officer and president of Expedia Services, and Jon Gieselman as the company’s president of Expedia Brands. As part of Murthy and Gieselman joining, the company will evolve its operating structure into four key pillars: Expedia Services, Expedia Brands, Expedia Marketplace, […]
Expedia Group launches Covid-19 Advisor tool
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group has introduced the Covid-19 Travel Advisor, a tech-enabled tool that is designed to provide travellers with up-to-date details about travel restrictions worldwide. Powered by sherpa, a global provider of travel identification requirements for the travel industry, the Covid-19 Travel Advisor is now part of several Expedia Group consumer brands, with the aim to simplify people’s experience when seeking guidance in destinations they hope or plan to visit, such as quarantine and Covid-19 testing requirements. Expedia reported seeing initial success in its pilot phase, with more than 1.6 […]
Expedia Group releases 2021 Travel Trends Report
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Expedia Group’s 2021 Travel Trends Report has been released, detailing how the travel industry has evolved since the onset of the pandemic. In December 2020, Expedia Group conducted a study of 1,000 British citizens in collaboration with data intelligence firm The Morning Consult. In conjunction with its pledge to help with the Covid-19 recovery, […]
Vrbo proves Expedia bright spot despite revenue declines
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Seattle-based online travel agency Expedia has reported declines in revenue of 57 per cent [to $5.2 billion] and in gross bookings [to $36.7 billion] in its fourth quarter earnings report. It was the fourth consecutive quarter that Expedia had posted a loss, following three successive profitable quarters prior to the coronavirus outbreak. Peter Kern, […]
Vrbo to maintain DC reservations despite backlash
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group-owned vacation rental platform Vrbo is planning to maintain reservations in Washington DC over Inauguration Week this week, despite Airbnb’s stance to block and cancel bookings, as well as a fierce backlash from online users. Last week, Airbnb and HotelTonight confirmed they would be blocking and cancelling all reservations in the DC Metro […]
Vrbo and NoiseAware partner to provide noise monitoring solutions
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Expedia Group vacation rental brand Vrbo has partnered with leading modern noise monitoring company NoiseAware to provide vacation home owners and property managers with access to exclusive pricing and services for NoiseAware noise monitoring solutions. At the same time, NoiseAware is offering Vrbo homeowners discounts of up to 50 per cent and property managers with […]