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This week’s Update features a wide variety of topics – Hopper, Capital One vacation rentals, Expedia layoffs and Hilton campgrounds....more
The big news last week of course was Peter Kern’s announcement that he is stepping down as Expedia Group CEO in May. Peter’s announcement came as part of an otherwise robust quarterly earnings release for Expedia. What...more
This past week was dominated by stories regarding AI’s application and use in the travel industry (we’ve included only one of those stories) and recent activity on resort fees (two stories this week). Some highlights...more
We’ve found fall to be the busiest of all seasons in the online travel world as everyone returns to work from summer breaks and the dates of the major online travel conferences are fast approaching. As you can see from the...more
This past week (the unofficial end to summer for many of you) was a relatively busy one in the world of online travel. Highlights include: - EU (Unofficially) Kills Booking Holdings’ Planned Purchase of eTraveli. For...more
This week’s Update features a variety of stories, including the latest news on the new cottage industry of resort fee litigation and Amazon’s growing (yet understated) significance in the travel industry. Enjoy....more
It was another relatively quiet week in the industry other than news late this past week that the Texas AG had filed suit against Booking Holdings over its platforms’ deceptive display of resort fees. Some highlights from the...more
After several slow weeks in the industry, this past week featured a number of important updates, including earnings releases and calls from Booking Holdings and Expedia Group. Transcripts from the two companies’ earnings...more
For the first time, our weekly Update delves into the world of artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve tried for several months now to avoid joining the chorus of voices proselytizing about the likely effects of AI, but as the...more
As evidenced by our list of stories, it was a relatively quiet week in online travel. The Texas Attorney General’s Office and its pursuit of hotel companies over their resort fee practices garnered most of the industry’s...more
Our weekly Online Travel Update for the week ending Friday, May 5, 2023, is below. We hope you enjoy...more
Our weekly Online Travel Update for the week ending February 17, 2023, is below. This week’s Update features a number of stories coming out of last week’s quarterly earnings releases by several of the largest online travel...more
Our weekly Online Travel Update for the week ending February 3, 2023, is below. This week’s Update features of number of stories detailing the Biden Administration’s growing efforts to address “unfair” fees, including hotel...more
This week’s Update delves back into resort fees and includes a story detailing planned future regulation of the fees by the FTC. While resort fees may not technically be an “online issue,” potential federal regulation will...more
This week’s Update features a variety of stories – short-term rental, airlines, resort fees and antitrust developments in both the United States and the EU. Enjoy....more
Vrbo Repositions Itself - (“Expedia’s Vrbo to Reposition Itself Beyond Vacation Rentals as a Family Travel Business,” Skift Travel News on Nov 14, 2019) Fresh from its disappointing third-quarter financial results,...more
...As for the Update, it was a relatively quiet week on the distribution front as opinions and viewpoints regarding the recently announced Expedia/Marriott agreement continue to roll in. What this agreement might ultimately...more
Consumer protection concerns are a re-occurring theme in this week’s Update. Proposed Legislation Targets Resort Fees - ("House Bill Would Halt Undisclosed Resort Fees," Benzinga.com on Sep 27, 2019) This past...more
Ettsa demands Europe-wide harmonisation of hotel booking rules - Travel Weekly (UK) - News on Aug 30, 2019 - The European technology and Travel Services Association (Ettsa) has demanded EU regulators enforce tighter...more
This week’s Update features a story on relative newcomer to third party distribution (Southwest Airlines) and includes, yet again, another update on the on-again/off-again saga of Booking.com commissions. Enjoy....more
This week’s Update includes additional background information regarding the ongoing resort fee saga, which many of you requested. Enjoy....more
This week’s travel-shortened OTA & Travel Distribution Update features two stories detailing two recently announced unique partnerships, one between Accor and Air-France-KLM and the other between Expedia and Lufthansa. We...more
Airbnb Begins Integration of Traditional Lodging Products - ("Airbnb Tests Hotel Integration by Adding Some HotelTonight Partners," Skift Travel News, May 29, 2019) As a critical first step in its integration of the newly...more