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Booking.com challenges hotel lawsuit

📑 Aug 7, 2025: Over 10,000 European hotels join a class action against Booking.com, supported by HOTREC, over price parity clauses claimed to harm competition. The lawsuit seeks fair competition, especially for small hotels. Booking.com defends, citing no anti-competitive ruling by the EU court. The registration deadline extended to August 29, 2025, due to interest. In 2023, Booking Holdings had a 71% European market share. More details at the Luxembourg Times.
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Amex GBT targets $155 million in cost synergies from CWT merger

💸 Aug 7, 2025, Amex GBT plans to finalize the CWT acquisition by September's end after the U.S. Department of Justice withdrew its lawsuit. The merger is expected to yield $155 million in savings over three years. $3.2 billion in new customer wins over the past year included $2.2 billion from SMEs. Q2 saw a 4% rise in adjusted EBITDA and a 1% revenue increase to $631 million. Corporate travel transactions rose 2% between May and June.
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Accor reinvents travel loyalty with global subscription relaunch

👤 Aug 7, 2025: Accor revamps its Asia Pacific loyalty program, Accor Plus, into ALL Accor+ Explorer, launching October 1, 2025. This premium subscription offers Gold status, two free nights annually, and exclusive global discounts. Subscribers stay five times more nights and spend 2.3 times more than non-members. Accor targets a $2 trillion subscription economy, driven by insights from over 7,000 members, AI-driven personalization, and a focus on building a community and lifestyle ecosystem.
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Booking.com launches first U.S. credit card

💳 Booking.com launched the Genius Rewards Visa Signature in the U.S. on August 7, 2025, to boost direct bookings. Cardholders earn travel credits, not points, with 6% back on hotel/rental bookings via the app and 5% on other services. Benefits include no annual fee, Genius tier 3 perks, and $150 travel credits for $1,500 spent in 90 days. A $100 bonus is earned annually for $15,000 spent. The initiative aims to increase U.S. market presence.
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Booking.com CEO suggests lottery system to curb overtourism

🗺 Aug 7, 2025, Booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel suggests a lottery system and higher travel costs to reduce overtourism in cities like Venice and Barcelona. This proposal aims for sustainable travel and equitable access. The idea prevents exclusive access by wealthy travelers and involves partnerships with governments. Similar systems are used in US National Parks and Glastonbury Festival. The priority is on 'honeypot' destinations overwhelmed by tourists.
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Inspirational Guide for Hoteliers

📈 Societies Quarterly July - September 2025 outlines key hospitality trends. Luxury, design, technology, and AI are now central, not peripheral, in shaping the future of extraordinary places. This quarterly benchmark explores the transformations in the hotel experience, focusing on innovations and cultural shifts that will significantly impact the industry.
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Faster-growing SMEs link business travel to culture

💰 Aug 5, 2025: A report by American Express Global Business Travel shows that 66% of high-growth SMEs engage in international travel, compared to 52% of slower-growing companies. These growth leaders prioritize travel for staff development (55% vs. 45%) and conferences (58%). Travel's role extends beyond client work, focusing on team-building, and fostering company culture. High-growth firms also tend to innovate and seek external advice on AI, automation, and market insights.
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U.S. OTAs hit a growth plateau

🌎 The U.S. OTA market is slowing as of Aug 5, 2025, with sales at $108.5 billion in 2024, showing minimal growth. OTAs hold 22% of the market, trailing supplier-direct (42%) and offline (36%) bookings. Expedia faces increased competition, while Booking.com is less affected. Hotels remain key for OTAs, but demand is cooling. Technology, including AI, is vital for competitiveness. Direct bookings via airlines and hotels are rising, potentially reshaping the market through 2028.
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Accor reports flat business travel demand

🏠 Aug 5, 2025, Accor reported a 2.5% revenue increase in H1 2025, reaching €2.7 billion, driven by leisure travel. Systemwide RevPAR grew 4.1%. Business travel remained flat, impacting the key European markets, especially the U.K. and Germany, amid economic challenges. Paris showed strong performance compared to regional France. Accor anticipates slower revenue growth in H2 due to post-Olympic effects but maintains its full-year RevPAR growth guidance of 3-4%.
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The new shape of American travel in 2025

📰 August 5, 2025, Skift's report on U.S. Traveler Trends 2025 reveals evolving travel habits: 66% of Americans embarked on leisure trips focused on relaxation and experiences. AI tools like ChatGPT aid nearly 33% in trip planning, while over 50% book via social media. Direct bookings fell to 41%, favoring OTAs for convenience. Rising costs lead to mid-range lodging choices. The report also compares U.S. trends with China, India, France, and the UK.
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