SEATTLE – Expedia® today announced Expedia® Trip Matching, a first-of-its-kind feature that allows travelers to seamlessly build an itinerary based on an Instagram Reel and then book directly on Expedia. Travelers can share any publicly available travel-related Reel—whether from content creators they follow or trending posts—directly with Expedia and receive customized itineraries, destination ideas, and travel tips based on the video. Powered by AI, this new experience transforms inspiration into real-world travel plans, making it easier than ever to book travel directly from Instagram.
It’s no secret people are getting their news, inspiration and travel ideas from influencers and content creators, with a recent study showing that 80% of millennials rely on social media for travel decisions.* We want to be where consumers get their inspiration, which is through social media. Now with Expedia® Trip Matching, travelers can seamlessly build an itinerary based on an Instagram Reel and book it directly on Expedia. Jochen Koedijk, Chief Marketing Officer, Expedia Group
How Expedia® Trip Matching works:
- Find inspiration: While scrolling Instagram, a user finds a Reel featuring a destination or experience they love.
- Share it with Expedia: They tap the share icon on the Reel, search for the @Expedia account, and send the video.
- Receive fast results: Expedia replies with AI-generated, personalized travel recommendations, itineraries, and trip-planning resources based on the video.
- Book when ready: Travelers can review and book directly from the customized itinerary—seamlessly bridging social discovery with real-world booking.
Expedia® Trip Matching is now open for beta access by visiting Expedia.com/tripmatching.com. The feature will be available to U.S. travelers in the upcoming weeks.
Through the new trip matching feature, Expedia becomes the first OTA to integrate real-time, AI-powered travel planning directly into Instagram. The feature reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and meeting the next generation of travelers where they are – inspired, mobile, and social-first.
* Source: Klook Pulse study, November 2023
About Expedia Group
Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product & Technology, focused on the group’s product and technical strategy and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, CarRentals.com™, and Expedia Cruises™.
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