Track Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) in one feed. This hub aggregates the latest news, product updates and partner changes across Expedia and its brands, curated by 10 Minutes News. Stay on top of one of the biggest forces in online travel.
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Google to Adopt Open Standard for AI Hotel Booking, Excluding Traditional Agency Features and Group Business
6 October 2026📅 September 2026: Universal Commerce Protocol’s lodging draft was merged, missing travel agency fields. Google plans to adopt it for AI-powered hotel bookings. The draft, created by a 16-member council, lacks group bookings, which constitute roughly 25% of Marriott’s room nights. The protocol doesn’t account for commissions or post-purchase modifications. AI assists in venue sourcing, but group business remains complex. Industry needs standardized group terms for future integration. Four council seats are open for new members to address these gaps.
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Americas Great Resorts Offers Fixed-Price Email Marketing, Yielding Up to 36:1 ROI for Luxury Hotels and Cruises
6 October 2026📦 When working with Americas Great Resorts (AGR), hotels rent access to over 5 million verified email records of affluent travelers, targeting specific demographics. AGR charges a fixed price per thousand recipients, unlike OTAs which charge a commission per booking. Success stories include Montage Palmetto Bluff with a 27:1 ROI from 65,000 emails, and Windstar Cruises with a 36:1 ROI from 200,000 emails. AGR offers no commissions and maintains bookings on the hotel’s website, ensuring data control.
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Independent Hotels Bear the Cost as New Travel Distribution Layers Shift Financial Burden Away from OTAs and Brands
5 October 2026🏨 In 2026, Google introduced hotel booking within its AI system. Booking Holdings spends about $22 million daily on marketing, influencing hotel commissions. By 2025, 75% of Marriott’s US and Canada room nights were by members. Airlines, unlike hotels, managed to reduce OTAs’ share to 13% of their online revenue. In 2025, Delta earned $8.2 billion from American Express for loyalty perks. Franchise fees range from 9.6% to 12.9% of room revenue. Conversions were 40% of Marriott’s 2026 openings.
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91% of Hotels Use AI, but Only 22% Monitor AI Search Visibility, Reveals 2026 Industry Study
5 October 2026💻 The h2c AI Opportunity Study 2026, released on October 2, surveyed 113 hotel groups with over 8,200 properties. 91% use AI, but only 28% have a company-wide AI strategy, and 13% report measurable ROI. 70% expect AI booking channels to boost direct bookings, yet only 22% monitor AI search brand visibility. HOTREC’s European Hotel Distribution Study 2026 found 51% of hotels report OTA rate undercuts, increasing 8 points since 2023.
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Google Vice President Confirms User Clicks Influence Search Results Amid Antitrust Case Testimony
5 October 2026💻 On October 18, 2023, Google VP Pandu Nayak testified in a US antitrust case, revealing that Google uses a system called Navboost, which retains 13 months of click data sorted by location and device type. Despite its significance, Nayak did not specify Navboost’s ranking among Google’s signals. Google has not disclosed how clicks compare to links, content, or business profiles. Searches for hotel names, stored by Google, reflect user behavior and impact search results.
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Airbnb and Expedia CEOs Agree: Guests Prefer Choosing Trips Over AI-Driven Bookings for Expensive Stays
5 October 2026📅 Oct 5, 2026, in the US: Meta launched AI agent Muse on September 8. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, in an interview, expressed reservations about using AI like Muse for trip booking, emphasizing the enjoyment in planning and the need for guest control, especially for expensive stays. Meanwhile, Expedia’s CEO, Ariane Gorin, echoed similar sentiments on September 23, despite Expedia joining Muse, asserting that personal choice remains crucial in travel bookings.
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Independent Hotels Bear the Financial Burden of New Travel Distribution Layers, Unlike Airlines and Chains
5 October 2026🏨 Oct 5, 2026, the travel industry is evolving. Booking Holdings invests $22 million daily in marketing. In 2025, Delta’s pre-tax profit was $5 billion, while American Express paid them $8.2 billion for loyalty perks. Only 13% of airlines’ online revenue involves OTAs. Marriott reports 75% of U.S. and Canada room nights are by members. Independent hotels face 69.4% commissions from Booking Holdings, unlike chain hotels. Conversions formed 40% of Marriott’s 2026 openings. Franchise fees are 9.6% to 12.9% of…
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Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt Cite AI as Both Risk and Advantage to Direct Booking in Annual Reports and Calls
5 October 2026💻 February 10, 2026, Marriott expressed optimism about AI boosting direct bookings, but warned shareholders that AI could erode brand loyalty. By June, Marriott launched Ask Bonvoy following a 43 million increase in loyalty members, totaling 271 million. Hilton’s direct business exceeds 80%, while Hyatt anticipates retaining most business through its channels. Google introduced hotel booking within AI Mode in August. Booking’s AI-generated traffic remains under 1%, with precise bookings from agents undisclosed by both chains and OTAs.
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Hotels Can Leverage Travel Communities like Reddit for Direct Bookings, Reducing 15-25% OTA Commissions
4 October 2026📈 Most hotels rely on OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia for 60%-80% of bookings, paying 15%-25% commissions (Skift Research, 2025). Instead, engaging with online communities can convert discussions into direct bookings. 86% of travelers use community content for decisions (TripAdvisor/Ipsos MORI). Reddit, TripAdvisor, and Facebook are key platforms. Monitoring and participating in discussions can enhance SEO and direct booking conversions. A balanced content strategy is crucial, with emphasis on trust and authenticity to avoid bans.
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Air Canada Launches First Nonstop Flights from Canada to Canary Islands Using Airbus A321XLR
3 October 2026🛩 October 25 and 31, 2026, Air Canada launches nonstop flights from Toronto and Montréal to Tenerife, using Airbus A321XLR jets with 182 seats, covering 8,700 km. This model enables new routes like Toronto to Oslo and Shannon and Montréal to Basel by June 2027. Instinct, an AI travel assistant, grows 10% daily with 40% user credit card retention. Higher US airfares rise 34% domestically and 22% internationally, despite IATA’s projected $4.50 airline profit per passenger.
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Instinct AI Assistant Approaches $1B Annualized Transaction Volume, Over $500M in Travel-Related Sales
2 October 2026🚀 Instinct’s personal AI agent, led by 23-year-old Noah Shinn, nears $1 billion in annualized transactions, with over $500 million in travel-related sales. This data reflects early adopters, not typical consumer behavior. The agent enables users to book travel via simple text. AI’s role in travel evolves, emphasizing invisible interfaces and automated intent matching. Meanwhile, CollabsMap aids brands in using AI for visibility. Via.ai reports 3-5x conversion lift and 30% larger baskets through AI in real deployments.
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Mews Introduces Guest Messaging and Automations, Achieves 47,000 Automated Processes During Beta Testing Across Platforms
2 October 2026💻 Mews launched Guest Messaging and Automations in Amsterdam. The Guest Messaging system consolidates communication channels like SMS and WhatsApp into a single thread linked to the guest’s profile. Mews AI handles 80% of routine queries, increasing staff efficiency. Automations at selected Strawberry properties automated 60% of upgrades for Gold & Platinum guests. During the Beta phase, 47,000 automations ran across Mews. The system supports multiple platforms, enhancing guest experience and operational flexibility.
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H World Group’s Hua Xiao AI System Automates 1.8 Million In-Stay Requests Across 10,000 Hotels in China
2 October 2026💻 In late 2025, The Lux Collective trained 133 senior executives with a 20-week AI-powered program in Mauritius, the Maldives, Zanzibar, and Réunion. Accor’s app logged over 542,000 cleanliness checks in 2025 across 611 hotels, boosting customer satisfaction. Accor’s procurement achieved “Leading” maturity in June 2026. H World deployed AI in over 10,000 hotels, completing 1.8 million tasks. Radisson’s AI matches online prices in real-time since July 2026. Wyndham’s AI saves 40-80 hours per review in a 9,300-hotel network.
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Meta’s Muse AI Agent Blocked by Hilton, Redirects Booking Attempt to Expedia in Washington, D.C.
2 October 2026📅 On September 29, 2026, Gaurav Sharma used Meta’s AI, Muse, to book a Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C., for under $250, but was blocked by Hilton’s site. In September 2026, over 70% of travelers used AI for research, yet less than 16% booked with AI. Google’s AI Mode began hotel bookings with major partners. AI referrals to hotel sites grew fourfold, though AI bookings remain low. Younger travelers, especially Gen Z, lead AI usage.
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Mews Launches AI-Powered Guest Messaging and Automation Tools to Handle 80% of Routine Hotel Queries
2 October 2026💻 Hotel technology provider Mews launched AI-powered Guest Messaging and Automations tools on Oct 2nd, 2026, in Amsterdam. These features address unanswered guest messages, with 80% of routine queries handled instantly by AI. Automations enable no-code workflows for personalized guest interactions and operational tasks. Mews aims to improve communication efficiency and reduce administrative workloads, as guests currently wait eight hours for responses. During the beta phase, 47,000 workflows were run, emphasizing a shift towards streamlined hotel operations.
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Expedia TAAP Launches Beta Rapid Activities API, Integrating Tiqets Inventory for Agencies Ahead of 2027 Rollout
2 October 2026📅 Who? Expedia Group’s B2B division, Tiqets, travel agencies, Stephen Cheng, Peter Friend. When? October 2, 2026, general rollout in early 2027. Where? Expedia Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) interface. What? Beta Rapid Activities API launched, integrating Tiqets inventory, expands Rapid API ecosystem from accommodation to activities. How? Responds to 77% of travellers wanting a single platform for trip booking. Why? Reflects shift towards experience-focused travel planning, with activities as the starting point.
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Expedia Expands Rapid Activities API, Acquires Tiqets and CarTrawler to Enhance Travel Experience Offering
2 October 2026📅 Oct 2, 2026: Expedia launched a beta for its Rapid Activities API, allowing partners to sell museum tickets and tours. Expedia acquired Tiqets and CarTrawler in 2026 to expand offerings beyond lodging. Booking.com integrates hotel bookings with Air India, aiming for a Connected Trip. Airbnb adds car hire and grocery delivery. Marriott’s Bonvoy Tours started in 2017. Expedia’s tours will open to all partners in early 2027, offering a comprehensive travel experience. 77% of travelers prefer booking on a…
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Mews Launches Guest Messaging and Automations, Improving Response Times and Automating 47,000 Tasks During Beta
1 October 2026📱 [Amsterdam, 1 October 2026] – Mews launched Guest Messaging and Automations. Each feature addresses repetitive hotel tasks, helping staff focus more on guests. Guest Messaging combines all guest communications into a single thread, reducing average response times from 8 hours. Mews AI answers 80% of routine questions instantly. Automations handle tasks like upgrades, with 60% automation for Gold & Platinum guests at some properties. During Beta, 47,000 automations ran. Mews supports 15,000 customers in 85 countries.
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Kennedy Training Network Offers Complimentary 40-Minute Hospitality Leadership Webcast Focused on Mentorship and Emotional Guest Connections
1 October 2026📅 Kennedy Training Network (KTN) offers a free, 40-minute webcast on October 23 at Noon ET, aimed at hospitality leaders for mentoring and creating emotional guest connections. Sponsored by Travel Outlook and Track Hospitality Software, it emphasizes the importance of human interaction in sales and hospitality. Upcoming sessions include one on November 20 addressing hotel sales effectiveness. Recordings are available on KTN’s YouTube and Spotify channels, with free registration at www.KTNwebcast.com.
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Hotels Are Adopting AI but Guests are Doing it Faster.
1 October 2026A new global study from h2c shows AI adoption accelerating rapidly across hotel companies. But after reviewing the research alongside what is happening in consumer AI, our biggest takeaway is that the more important transformation may be happening outside the hotel. h2c’s new AI Opportunity Study 2026, is one of the more comprehensive looks so far at how hotel chains are actually using artificial intelligence. The headline is encouraging: AI adoption in hospitality has accelerated significantly over the past year.…
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Rapid AI Integration in Travel Industry Raises Accountability Concerns Over Booking Errors and Customer Trust
1 October 2026📰 Meta’s Muse, Priceline’s agentic Penny, and Agoda’s AI Assistant are accelerating AI in travel. AI agents in finance could move funds from 0.1% to 3.3%-5.0% yields. AI’s role in travel, such as booking, raises questions of responsibility during issues like flight delays. Hyatt’s survey indicates loyalty plans affect 40% of travel costs, while ChatGPT cites publishers 74.6% in travel queries. U.S. OTA bookings form about 20% of the market, prompting shifts in AI and human travel roles.
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Non-Room Revenue in Hotels Grows 35% in 2026, Driven by AI and Enhanced Guest Experience Offerings
30 September 2026💸 In 2026, hotels focusing on non-room products saw a 35% revenue growth, contrasting with a 6.5% increase in room sales, according to Turneo data. This shift is driven by consumer demand for experiences, enhanced technology, and AI integration. Over 60% of guests engage with non-room offers pre-arrival, and AI tools are increasingly aiding trip planning. By 2027, the focus will be on making the entire hotel catalogue AI-accessible and capturing more of the guest’s travel spend.
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ChatGPT and Google Prioritize OTA Prices, Impacting Independent Hotels’ Visibility and Pricing Control
30 September 2026📱 ChatGPT, on June 25, examined 240 hotel price queries, reading OTA sites like Booking.com and Expedia 46% of the time, yet linking to them only 11%. Booking.com held 62.57% of US ad space in July. Google, requiring hotels to provide price feeds, stops its auto-rate identification on September 30. In the EU, Google’s search results now separate reseller prices from hotel prices. Late August saw Google introducing bookings via AI Mode using 10 partners, excluding independents.
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Booking Holdings Launches Lola, an AI Travel Assistant, Offering Members Up to 15% Hotel Rate Discounts
30 September 2026💻 Sep 30, 2026: Booking Holdings launched Lola, an AI assistant that books hotels, tables, and tickets through chat, with membership fees up to $25/month. Members save up to 15% on hotel rates via Booking.com and partners. Created over five months by Kayak co-founders, it offers three membership tiers: Free, Plus ($5/month), and VIP ($25/month). Lola earns from membership fees and commissions from hotels, with VIP discounts reaching 21% at places like The Plymouth South Beach.
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ChatGPT and Google Display Hotel Prices from OTAs, Undermining Direct Rate Control by Hotels
30 September 2026💵 September 30, 2026, worldwide: ChatGPT retrieves hotel prices primarily from OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia, shown in over 46% of 240 queries. It cites these sources only 11% of the time. Google, since September 30, requires hotels to send their rates if they wish to advertise. In Europe, Google’s changes from September 8 result in separate blocks for hotels/resellers, while in the U.S., Google’s AI books through ten partners, excluding independents.
