- Global Hotels & Holiday Accommodation Sector in the Sports Sponsorship Landscape 2026 - Featuring Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, IGH Hotels & Resorts, MGM Resorts, Accor, Airbnb, and Expedia
May 13, 2026
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Dublin, May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Sponsorship Sector Report - Travel & Tourism - Hotels & Holiday Accommodation 2026" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
This report delves into the global landscape of the hotels and holiday accommodation sector, highlighting the main active brands and recent trends in the sports sponsorship industry.
5-Year Market Review
From 2020 to 2022, the industry faced a decline but navigated a transformation towards renegotiated, digitally inclined sponsorships due to pandemic-driven disruptions. The market experienced a resurgence, peaking in 2024 alongside major events, followed by a modest normalization in 2025. This phase marks a shift towards targeted, experience-centric, and sustainable partnerships.
Analysis by Sport
Soccer reigns supreme in sponsorships, boasting vast global reach and fan engagement, making it the prime focus for many sponsors. Basketball and baseball follow with significant regional traction, while multi-sport events provide concentrated exposure opportunities within host cities.
Product Category Breakdown
Sponsorship investments are led by federations, marked by the highest total spend and average deal sizes. Venues, while also attracting substantial investments, boast strong average deal values. Events and teams command significant expenditure, although the average deal values are lower, indicative of numerous smaller-scale agreements.
Consumer Trends
The volume and value of holiday rental sponsorships are on the rise as travel behaviors evolve, with a burgeoning demand for unique experiences. Brands are strategically positioning themselves around major global sports events, enticing consumers with creative stay-plus-experience packages.
Key Product Market
North America dominates the hotels and holiday accommodation sponsorship market in 2025, leading in both deal volume and value. This is fueled by a highly competitive marketplace, robust tourism infrastructure, imminent major sports events, high consumer expenditure, and an abundance of sponsorable assets, alongside brands' eagerness to invest heavily in large-scale activations.
Leading Brands
Airbnb holds the highest global sports sponsorship expenditure, adopting a premium strategy focused on high-value, high-profile deals. Meanwhile, Marriott Hotels & Resorts boasts the most sponsorship deals throughout the sector.
Report Scope
The report offers detailed insights into the global hotels and holiday accommodation sector, emphasizing its evolution within the sports sponsorship sphere.
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Reasons to Buy
This report serves those seeking comprehensive analysis of the global performance and popularity dynamics within the hotels and holiday accommodation sector's engagement in sports sponsorship.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Key Information and Background
2. Market Insights
3. Sector Analysis
4. Case Study
5. Brand Analysis
6. Appendix
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
Marriott Hotels & Resorts Hilton IGH Hotels & Resorts MGM Resorts Accor Airbnb Expedia
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/37o73f
About ResearchAndMarkets.com
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
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- Personalization in Travel & Tourism: 2026 Strategic Intelligence Report Featuring Expedia Group, Booking, Marriott International, Airbnb, Holibob and More
May 13, 2026
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Dublin, May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Strategic Intelligence: Personalization in Travel & Tourism (2026)" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
An in-depth analysis of personalization within the travel and tourism sector highlights a growing focus on customer loyalty and experience enhancement. This comprehensive report delves into key trends, challenges, and actionable recommendations, fortified by concrete case studies that exemplify personalization in action.
The report thoroughly explores the theme of personalization, evaluating its profound impact on the industry. It examines affected stakeholders, contributory trends, adverse destination trends, unintended opportunities, and emerging trends resulting from personalization in tourism. This document offers a detailed industry analysis via real-life case studies, showcasing responses by destinations and corporations to personalization's influence on operations. Additionally, recommendations for the sector are outlined alongside descriptions of featured companies.
Report Scope
Providing a comprehensive overview, this report examines the impact of personalization on the travel sector and investigates contributory factors. Key trends are categorized into industry trends, macroeconomic trends, and consumer trends. Multiple case studies are showcased, illustrating diverse responses by countries and companies to the rising influence of personalization and their strategies for alignment and growth.
Reasons to Buy
Gain insights into personalization's effect on the tourism industry and adapt your strategies using detailed case studies. Evaluate company strategies that are driving success in the personalization theme. Identify leading companies in the personalization space. Review real-world trends by integrating personalization across the travel and tourism landscape, enhancing the traveler journey.
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
Expedia Group Booking Holdings Trip.com Group Hilton Worldwide Marriott International IHG Qantas Airways JetBlue United Airlines Airbnb American Airlines Carnival Corporation Fora Travel Triptease Sojern Mews Holibob
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t65wps
About ResearchAndMarkets.com
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Story Continues
CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
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- EXPE Q1 Deep Dive: Margin Expansion and B2B Growth Amid Macro Volatility
May 12, 2026
Online travel agency Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street’s expectations in Q1 CY2026, with sales up 14.7% year on year to $3.43 billion. Guidance for next quarter’s revenue was better than expected at $4.16 billion at the midpoint, 1% above analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.96 per share was 42.3% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Is now the time to buy EXPE? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).
Expedia (EXPE) Q1 CY2026 Highlights:
Revenue: $3.43 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.35 billion (14.7% year-on-year growth, 2.2% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.96 vs analyst estimates of $1.38 (42.3% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $542 million vs analyst estimates of $451.7 million (15.8% margin, 20% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2026 is $4.16 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $4.12 billion Operating Margin: 7.3%, up from -2.3% in the same quarter last year Room Nights Booked: 113.9 million, up 6.2 million year on year Market Capitalization: $30.34 billion
StockStory’s Take
Expedia’s first quarter results surpassed Wall Street’s expectations, yet investor sentiment turned negative following the report. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to strong execution in both consumer and B2B segments, robust marketing discipline, and the scaling impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across the business. CEO Ariane Gorin highlighted that while U.S. room night growth remained steady, cancellations spiked in Europe and Asia due to geopolitical events and travel advisories. “When travelers needed us most, we took care of them, working with our partners in the region to extend cancellation flexibility,” Gorin explained, referencing operational agility during periods of disruption.
Looking forward, management emphasized that Expedia’s guidance is shaped by ongoing investments in AI-driven personalization, continued expansion of B2B partnerships, and disciplined cost management. CFO Scott Schenkel noted that cost efficiencies and marketing productivity are expected to support further margin expansion, although external volatility may persist. Gorin stated, “We are moving deliberately to ensure our strategy is resilient no matter how traveler behaviors evolve,” pointing to a cautious approach amid macroeconomic uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical risks in key travel corridors.
Key Insights from Management’s Remarks
Management pointed to several operational and strategic initiatives that shaped first quarter results and set the stage for upcoming quarters, highlighting the interplay between AI adoption, marketing efficiency, and B2B momentum.
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AI-driven personalization and efficiency: Expedia credited AI for enhancing traveler experience through better product recommendations and streamlined service interactions. Gorin described how AI-powered filters and conversational tools led to higher conversion rates on Vrbo and improved attach rates on Expedia. B2B partnerships fuel growth: The B2B segment delivered 22% bookings growth, with new exclusive deals such as Bank of Montreal AIR MILES and Uber as a hotel partner. Management views these partnerships as incremental demand drivers and a key differentiator for its supply partners, expanding reach into new customer segments. Operational leverage and marketing discipline: The company reported its highest first quarter margin in 15 years, driven by disciplined marketing spend and cost controls. Schenkel cited marketing leverage in the consumer segment and noted that AI tools provided “hundreds of millions of dollars in realized marketing value.” Brand and loyalty program progress: Expedia’s consumer brands grew bookings by 10%, the fastest pace in three years, and saw mid-single digit growth in active loyalty members. Higher-tier loyalty members expanded even faster, reflecting the company’s push toward customer retention and repeat engagement. Macro disruptions and rapid response: Conflict in the Middle East and travel advisories in Mexico led to elevated cancellations and volatility in booking trends. Management responded with flexible cancellation policies and rapid service team mobilization, stabilizing activity by early April.
Drivers of Future Performance
Expedia’s outlook depends on its ability to balance cost discipline with investments in AI and B2B, while navigating persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.
AI investments and channel optimization: Management expects ongoing AI adoption to drive greater personalization, operational efficiency, and improved marketing return on investment. Gorin explained that AI is enabling better targeting and conversion, but acknowledged that rising usage could increase costs in the back half of the year. B2B expansion and partner onboarding: The company plans to prioritize B2B investments, especially through new partnerships and platform integrations. Schenkel stated that while B2B margins may face short-term pressure due to investment, these efforts are intended to support durable long-term growth and marketplace expansion. External risks and traveler behavior: Ongoing geopolitical instability, particularly in the Middle East and Mexico, remains a source of volatility for bookings and cancellations. Management anticipates further fluctuations in key corridors and is maintaining a cautious approach to full-year guidance until greater clarity emerges.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will monitor (1) the pace and profitability of new B2B partnerships such as Uber, (2) continued margin expansion as marketing efficiencies and AI adoption are scaled, and (3) Expedia’s ability to sustain consumer bookings momentum despite external macro disruptions. The evolution of AI-related costs and the effectiveness of loyalty program enhancements will also be closely watched.
Expedia currently trades at $228.56, down from $252.79 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
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- Evention Launches OTA Recon to Recover the $430,000 Most Hotels Don't Know They're Losing Every Year
May 12, 2026
A new module in The Evention Platform tackles the hidden cost of OTA billing errors before they become lost revenue, chargebacks, and one-star reviews.
CHICAGO, May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At many hotels, OTAs like Expedia and Booking.com drive a large portion of bookings, in many cases nearing 50% of total volume, making them the industry's dominant distribution channel. But behind every OTA reservation is a reconciliation process that most properties are not equipped to manage. Evention analysis shows a single booking can touch up to seven systems before it is fully settled, and without daily transaction-level validation, errors compound quietly and continuously.Evention LLC Logo (PRNewsfoto/Evention, LLC)
The Problem OTA billing errors fall into six categories: virtual credit card underpayments, commission overpayments on no-shows and short-stays, resort fee variances, rate discrepancies, guest double-charges, and cancellation errors. Individually, each error is small enough to go unnoticed. Evention analysis of multi-property portfolios shows that collectively, they drain more than $130,000 per year from a typical 300-room hotel in direct revenue loss alone.
Timing makes it worse. Virtual credit cards expire. Dispute windows close. Most properties reconcile OTA activity monthly at best, by which point many recovery windows are already gone. And when billing errors reach guests, the damage compounds: negative reviews triggered by double-charges and billing disputes cost the average 300-room hotel an additional $300,000 per year in Average Daily Rate (ADR) suppression. The combined exposure exceeds $430,000 annually per property.
Across a portfolio of twenty properties, that figure can exceed $8.6 million. Across one hundred, that is $43 million. This is not a back-office line item. It is a strategic financial risk that belongs on an operator's risk register.
"Nobody ignores a $10,000 problem. Everyone ignores a thousand $10 problems. That is exactly how distributed OTA leakage stays hidden for so long." — Mike Baldinger, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Evention
The Solution Evention's new OTA Recon module automates the full reconciliation process at the reservation level, not the summary level. That distinction matters. Summary-level reconciliation tells you the month is roughly balanced. Reservation-level tells you which booking did not, and what to do about it.
The platform pulls OTA reservation data, virtual credit card payments, commission invoices, and payout records and matches each against the property management system daily. Exceptions are flagged, classified, and ready to act on before recovery windows close.
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The Results Properties that deploy OTA Recon stop losing revenue silently and start recovering it systematically. Early adopters consistently recover 10 to 40 times the annual platform cost in previously uncollected revenue, while reducing manual reconciliation time by 96 percent and errors by 95 percent.
The change is operational as much as financial. Finance teams that once spent days each month chasing OTA discrepancies now have a daily exception queue, ready to act on the same morning an issue appears while recovery is still possible. Billing errors that once reached guests and triggered negative reviews are caught before checkout. For multi-property operators, what was a distributed financial risk becomes a managed, visible, and consistently recoverable exposure.
See It at HITEC 2026 Evention will be exhibiting at HITEC June 16–18. Stop by Booth 3631 to see OTA Recon in action and get a live look at what daily automated reconciliation recovers for properties like yours.
About Evention LLC Evention is the financial trust layer for hotel, restaurant, retail, and entertainment operators. Its automated reconciliation platform continuously matches financial data across POS, payments, labor, and third-party systems, giving finance teams the confidence to protect margins and deliver the experience guests expect. The Evention Platform includes Credit Card Recon, Cash Recon, OTA Recon, Tips+Gratuities, InstaTip, and Credit Card Analytics.
"Checkout confirms payment. Evention confirms truth." To learn more or schedule a demo, visit eventionllc.comCision
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- TikTok now wants to be the place you book the trip you just saw on TikTok
May 12, 2026
The TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on March 30, 2026. The platform faces regulatory scrutiny in Europe regarding concerns about design features and potential impacts on children's mental health under the EU's Digital Services Act. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | Image Credits:Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto / Getty Images
TikTok announced on Tuesday that it’s launching TikTok GO, a way for users to discover and book hotels, attractions, and experiences directly within its app. The new offering is launching in the U.S. and is available to users 18 years and older.
TikTok GO surfaces lodging and things to do through videos, search, and location pages. When users find something they’re interested in, they can view details, check availability, and complete a booking. The new feature is made possible through partnerships with including Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, GetYourGuide, Tiqets, and Trip.com.
Additionally, creators who showcase hotels, attractions, and experiences can connect their content directly to bookings, with opportunities to earn through commissions and creator campaigns.
The launch of TikTok GO signals the company’s broader push to keep users inside its app, from discovery through purchase. TikTok has executed this playbook before: TikTok Shop, launched in the U.S. in 2023, brought e-commerce directly into the app, letting users buy products featured in videos without ever leaving.Image Credits:TikTok /
TikTok GO applies the same logic to travel. Instead of directing users to third-party websites after they come across a destination or recommendation in a video, TikTok is positioning itself as a one-stop platform where viral travel content can drive bookings and revenue. The implication for the company is significant: TikTok is systematically converting its discovery engine into a transaction layer, which both deepens user retention and opens entirely new revenue streams for its new owners.
The addition of TikTok GO also puts TikTok in more direct competition with Google. TikTok has already been chipping away at Google’s core businesses, Search and Google Maps, as users increasingly turn to the app as a search engine, and this latest launch pushes TikTok further into competition with the search giant.
Notably, several of TikTok GO’s launch partners—Booking.com and Expedia among them—are also direct competitors in the travel discovery space. That partner-competitor dynamic will be interesting to watch. TikTok needs their inventory to make GO credible but will simultaneously be angling to own the customer relationship those same partners depend on.
“Every day on TikTok, millions of people discover where to eat, where to stay, and what to do next,” said Adam Presser, CEO of TikTok USDS Joint Venture, in a blog post. “TikTok GO connects that moment of inspiration directly to the businesses behind it, and that’s good for creators, good for local businesses, and good for communities.”
This isn’t the first time that TikTok has enabled in-app booking, even if it’s a far more ambitious undertaking. The company aso partnered with Ticketmaster back in 2022 to allow users to discover and buy tickets for events.
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- Expedia Group Posts Q1 Earnings & Revenue Beat on Strong B2B Growth
May 11, 2026
Expedia Group's EXPE first-quarter 2026 B2B revenues of $1.18 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.43%. B2B revenues accounted for approximately 34.5% of total revenues and increased 25% year over year.
The growth in the B2B segment in the reported quarter was driven by strong partner demand, expanding global travel distribution capabilities and the company’s position as the “largest B2B travel business.” Growth also benefited from Expedia Group’s leading technology, rich first-party data and scalable travel ecosystem supporting enterprise partners globally.
EXPE reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.96 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 39.01% and surging 386% year over year. Revenues reached $3.43 billion, modestly beating estimates by 2.47% and increasing 15% from the prior-year period. (Read More: Expedia Group Q1 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Both Increase Y/Y).
EXPE Benefits From Expanding B2B Operations
Expedia Group’s expanding B2B operations are emerging as a major growth driver and strengthening the company’s long-term prospects. In the first quarter of 2026, B2B gross bookings increased 22% year over year, while B2B revenues climbed 25%, significantly outpacing B2C growth rates. The strong performance highlights increasing demand from enterprise travel partners and reinforces Expedia Group’s leadership in the global travel marketplace. Continued enterprise travel digitization is further supporting rapidly expanding B2B business, as companies increasingly adopt integrated travel technology platforms and scalable booking infrastructure.
Expedia Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseExpedia Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Expedia Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Expedia Group, Inc. Quote
The company’s scale remains an important competitive advantage. Expedia Group describes itself as operating the “largest B2B travel business,” supported by a broad ecosystem that includes leading travel brands, advanced technology capabilities and rich first-party data. These strengths enable the company to provide scalable travel solutions, personalized experiences and efficient inventory distribution to partners across more than 70 countries. The company’s expanding international presence was reflected in 24% year-over-year growth in non-U.S. revenues during the first quarter of 2026, highlighting solid global demand trends and growing international scale.
The B2B segment also appears operationally efficient. B2B cost of revenues represented only 3.3% of B2B revenues in the reported quarter, substantially lower than B2C levels, suggesting favorable operating leverage and margin potential. Strong B2B execution contributed to Expedia Group’s 83% adjusted EBITDA growth and 591 basis points of margin expansion during the quarter.
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EXPE’s B2B Business Hurt by Partner Reliance & Competition
Expedia Group’s expanding B2B business faces risks from heavy dependence on travel suppliers and third-party partners, which could pressure growth if key relationships weaken or partner economics become less favorable. The company specifically highlighted risks tied to “dependence on relationships with travel suppliers and other B2B partners” as well as reliance on third-party business partners and service providers.
Expedia Group also operates in a highly competitive environment, facing pressure from online travel agencies, suppliers, search engines and emerging AI-powered travel platforms. Intensifying competition could affect partner retention, pricing power, margins and future B2B growth momentum despite the segment’s strong recent performance.
The company’s shares have declined 18.9% in the year-to-date period, underperforming the Zacks Leisure and Recreation Services industry and Consumer Discretionary sector's fall of 6.9% and 8.3%, respectively.
EXPE’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Expedia Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The Beachbody Company BODI, Lincoln Educational Services LINC and Hasbro HAS are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector. While The Beachbody Company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present, Lincoln Educational Services and Hasbro carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Beachbody Company’s shares have gained 31.4% in the year-to-date period. BODI is set to report its first-quarter 2026 results on May 12.
Lincoln Educational Services' shares have surged 85.3% in the year-to-date period. LINC is set to report its first-quarter 2026 results on May 11.
Hasbro's shares have appreciated 19.3% year to date. HAS is scheduled to report its first-quarter 2026 results on May 20.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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- Assessing Expedia Group (EXPE) Valuation After Recent Share Price Volatility
May 11, 2026
Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.
Recent share performance and business snapshot
Expedia Group (EXPE) has seen mixed share performance recently, with the stock down over the past week and month, but higher over the past year and past 3 months. This has given investors a varied return profile.
The company operates a broad travel platform that includes B2C brands such as Brand Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo and Orbitz. It also has a B2B segment that supplies travel inventory and technology to partners, and a metasearch business through trivago.
See our latest analysis for Expedia Group.
At a share price of US$229.98, Expedia Group has recently seen the share price fall 9.02% over one day and 6.70% over the past week. At the same time, a 1 year total shareholder return of 38.63% and 3 year total shareholder return of 151.91% point to a stronger longer term picture, so recent weakness may reflect a reassessment of near term risks more than a reversal of the broader trend.
If recent volatility has you comparing opportunities, this could be a good moment to broaden your search using Simply Wall St’s screener for travel related and leisure exposed businesses by checking out 19 top founder-led companies
With Expedia Group reporting US$15.17b in revenue, US$1.49b in net income and trading at US$229.98, the stock sits below the average analyst price target. This raises the question: is this a buying opportunity, or is potential future growth already reflected in the current price?
Most Popular Narrative: 33.5% Undervalued
At a last close of $229.98 versus a narrative fair value of $345.94, the most followed view on Expedia Group suggests a sizeable valuation gap that rests on how travel habits are evolving rather than on short term trading swings.
As travel becomes more intentional and experience-led, platforms that help people plan better, not just faster, stand to benefit. Expedia’s broad ecosystem, improving technology, and focus on discovery position it well for that next phase.
Read the complete narrative.
Curious what kind of revenue mix, margin profile, and earnings path could justify that higher fair value. The underlying narrative leans heavily on experience driven travel and operating leverage from technology.
Result: Fair Value of $345.94 (UNDERVALUED)
Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts.
However, this hinges on continued experience led travel and tech execution. Weaker demand or slower progress integrating platforms and data could quickly challenge that thesis.
Story Continues
Find out about the key risks to this Expedia Group narrative.
Next Steps
Given the mix of optimism and concern in this story, it makes sense to review the full data set yourself and move quickly to form an independent view using 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign.
Looking for more investment ideas?
If Expedia Group has sparked fresh thinking, do not stop here, the broader market holds plenty of other stocks that could line up better with your goals.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include EXPE.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
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- Expedia and CarTrawler May Be Close to a Deal Following a Meeting in Dublin: Scoop
May 11, 2026
The CarTrawler leadership team and its owner TowerBrook Capital Partners met at Dublin headquarters last week with Expedia Group and Evercore, one of the banks involved in discussions between the two companies, according to an industry source aware of the meeting.
Expedia has an “important” announcement scheduled for Monday morning, although it’s possible it is unrelated to CarTrawler. Privately held and strong in airline partnership relationships, CarTrawler is B2B provider of car rentals, other ground transportation, and insurtech to more than 300 travel brands in 150+ countries.
A deal with CarTrawler, whether it would be a an outright acquisition, an investment or partnership, would help address the weakness in Expedia’s car rental business for partners. Expedia B2B is strong in its hotel business, but car rentals are a highly consolidated business, there is stiff competition from car rental websites, and car rentals are a complex booking and business.
Expedia and CarTrawler have been partners for years. A deal would help Expedia’s B2B business arm bundle lodging, airport transfers, rides, and insurance offers in a one-stop shop for Expedia’s airline, travel agency, financial institution, and loyalty program partners.
A total acquisition of CarTrawler could see the company valued in the $450-$550 million range, based on comments that CEO Peter O’Donovan made in August about its nine months of financial results through June 2025. Adjusted EBITDA was tracking at $31-$33 million for the full year based on his figures.
If a deal isn’t a 100% acquisition, it could potentially follow Expedia’s pattern with hotel metasearch company Trivago, where Expedia took and held a majority stake beginning in 2012 and kept it. Expedia might choose instead to be a minority investor in CarTrawler.
It’s unlikely bankers were involved in last week’s meeting to merely discuss expanding the two companies’ existing partnership, however. And any deal could still fall through.
An Expedia spokesperson told Skift Sunday night that it doesn’t comment on “rumors and speculation.” CarTrawler didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Expedia B2B Is on a Roll
Expedia has been focused on the growth of its B2B partner business since Ariane Gorin, who previously headed the unit, became CEO in 2024. A case in point is its recent acquisition of attractions platform Tiqets, which will be used initially in Expedia’s B2B business.
Alfonso Paredes runs Expedia’s B2B business today, which is considered the leading B2B platform in travel. While Booking Holdings is the world’s largest travel business, Expedia’s consumer businesses have been struggling until recently, B2B seems to be Expedia’s secret sauce.
Story Continues
In a blog post in February, Paredes wrote that Expedia B2B was expanding the capabilities of its Rapid API solution.
“This shift isn’t just about breadth of supply. It’s about orchestration: bringing together flights, lodging, cars, travel protection, and activities so partners can create end-to-end experiences that convert,” Paredes wrote.
Expedia’s B2B segment is vital in its bid to expand internationally through supplier partnerships with airlines, travel agencies, financial institutions, and more. It is also attractive because it doesn’t require much performance marketing spend, unlike B2C, as the partners do most of the promotion to their customers and employees.
In the first quarter, Expedia’s B2B revenue increased 25% year-over-year while revenue rose just 8% in its consumer businesses, which primarily are Expedia.com, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.
B2B represents just 34% of Expedia’s revenue, but it is getting a lot of the company’s focus and is growing fast. Examples of Expedia’s B2B partners include American Express, American Express Global Business Travel, Uber, Hopper, Mastercard, Hawaiian Airlines, and Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin.
Hints During Expedia’s Recent Earnings Call
An Expedia acquisition or investment in CarTrawler would fit squarely into Expedia’s strategy.
During the first quarter earnings call on Thursday, CEO Gorin said: “We’ve talked in previous quarters about our ambition in building out more lines of business in B2B to become a one-stop shop. And we continue to work on that to make progress. And we’re doing that in the context at the company level of expanding our margins. So we’re finding opportunities to find cost savings in some places and then reinvesting it in B2B and in a few other areas, as well.”
Without referencing CarTrawler, Expedia’s outgoing Chief Financial Officer Scott Schenkel said those B2B investments would pressure Expedia’s margins in the near-term.
Expedia doesn’t have an advanced B2B tech stack for car rentals, and CarTrawler’s is much stronger so the ground transport tech company could potentially fill a void.
What a Deal Means for CarTrawler
CarTrawler has been in a state of decline, executed layoffs, and made several attempts at an exit in recent years, according to the source familiar with the Expedia-CarTrawler meet-up.
In theory, an outright acquistion by Expedia of CarTrawler at $450-$550 million would provide TowerBrook with a 3-4x return on the $110 million it took to acquire CarTrawler in May 2020.
Expedia already has a consumer-facing car rental brand, CarRentals.com, which isn’t one of its core consumer brands, and officials hardly ever mention it.
CarTrawler is not a consumer brand, and is more of a tech solution. Expedia would have to figure out how to pare the two car-rental businesses if a deal becomes reality.
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- Uber has always wanted to be more than a ride; now it has reason to hurry
May 10, 2026
Image Credits:Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch
For years, Uber talked about becoming a super app. Then Waymo started picking up passengers in San Francisco, and the conversation grew more urgent. The company has been trying to embed itself inside the AV industry — as a data provider, an investor, and a distribution platform — but the consumer-facing bet may be just as important.
Two weeks ago, Uber held its annual GO-GET product event in New York and announced something its executives had been circling for a long time: users in the U.S. can now book hotels inside the Uber app, through a partnership with Expedia Group, with access to more than 700,000 properties worldwide. Uber One members — the company’s subscription tier at $9.99 a month — get 20% off a rotating list of 10,000 hotels and 10% back in credits. Vacation rentals through Vrbo will follow later this year, along with restaurant reservations via OpenTable. In the meantime, a “Shop for Me” feature lets users order from stores that aren’t even on the platform.
The announcements, taken together, were the most concrete picture yet of something Uber has been trying to conjure since at least 2019: that an app with 199 million monthly active users could become the app they use for nearly everything.
Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber’s CTO, offered the clearest explanation of the company’s thinking at TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC event late last month in San Francisco. The super app concept has existed for years in India and Southeast Asia, he noted, but U.S. versions have mostly flopped by bolting services onto traffic rather than building toward a reason to stay.
His answer to what fits? Membership. Every new category — food, groceries, now hotels — gives someone another reason to pay for Uber One. “I take Uber, go to the airport, take a flight, take another Uber, go to a hotel, go to a restaurant,” he said. “There is a flow you can actually build into it.”
Flights are not available yet, though Naga didn’t rule them out. Uber tried flight booking in Europe years ago without success. “First let’s get the hotel things done,” he said. Financial services sound like a possibility too — Uber already offers a debit card to drivers in Mexico — though how far that goes, or when, remains unclear. Said Naga: “Never say never.”
Uber isn’t alone in this race. Airbnb, arguably the company most directly threatened by Uber’s hotel push, announced its own transportation ambitions in late March — a partnership with Welcome Pickups to offer airport transfers in 125 cities across Asia, Europe, and Latin America, structured to keep users inside the Airbnb app rather than sending them to Uber. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has spent three years promising to turn X into an “everything app” in the WeChat mold, and is now nearing what he describes as a long-stated goal: X Money, a banking and payments platform built inside the social network, is expected to launch publicly soon. X claims 500 million monthly active users.
Story Continues
The big question is how many super apps the American market will actually support. WeChat works in China partly because the alternative was a patchwork of inferior options. In the U.S., people already have apps they like for most of what Uber wants to do. Getting them to consolidate inside a single platform requires either a compelling reason — Uber One’s discounts, say — or a seamless enough experience that switching feels worth it.
Uber’s bet is that its installed base is the moat. Its users have already handed over a credit card. Convincing them to book a hotel, or order from a store they’d never find on Uber Eats, is an easy lift compared with convincing them to download something new. Its most recent earnings, reported a few days ago, suggest Uber Eats may be the strongest argument for that thesis: delivery revenue grew 34% year over year in the first quarter, to $5.07 billion, making it easily the fastest-growing part of the business and pulling almost even with mobility in gross bookings.
Uber’s stock is still down about 8% from a year ago — suggesting that Wall Street isn’t fully convinced. But the company says that 50 million people are now paying for Uber One, and together they account for roughly half the company’s total bookings.
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- Expedia Spent $279 Million on Acquisitions in Q1, Airbnb Gained $70 Million on Tiqets Deal: Scoop
May 9, 2026
Expedia Group spent $279 million on acquisitions in the first quarter, driven by the closing of its deal to buy the Amsterdam-based Tiqets brand, according to its 10-Q financial filing published Friday.
Airbnb, an investor in Tiqets, looks to have made $70 million on the deal, according to a reference in its own 10-Q for the first quarter.
The price Expedia paid was disclosed in its cash flow statement in a line item called “acquisitions and other, net.” Expedia did not identify it as being tied to the Tiqets acquisition, but it has announced no other acquisitions since 2019.
A source close to Tiqets told Skift they understood the range to be between $250 and $300 million. A financial analyst also said that number makes sense.
Expedia declined to comment beyond the financial filing, and as did Tiqets founder and president Luuc Elzinga, who left the company in March.
Expedia announced its intent to acquire the activities and experiences platform last December. Tiqets raised $105 million in venture funding in 2014, and refinanced debt with a $29 million loan in June 2025.
Airbnb’s Investment in Tiqets Drove Q1 Profit
Airbnb, which led a $60 million Tiqets funding round in 2019, reported a $70 million gain in the first quarter “related to the sale of a privately-held equity investment.”
The gain was a strong contributor to Airbnb’s quarterly results: Its $160 million in net income was “driven primarily by higher revenue, a one-time gain of approximately $70 million related to the sale of a privately-held equity investment, and continued operating expense efficiencies, including customer support,” read its letter to shareholders.
Expedia intends to integrate Tiqets, which has a significant foothold in offering tickets to major tourist attractions, first into its B2B business for partners, and then into the company’s consumer brands.
Airbnb relaunched its own Experiences business a year ago.
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