Booking is copying Expedia's most durable asset
The company is folding Booking.com, Agoda, and Priceline into one B2B entity run by Agoda's CEO — a bet that the most valuable OTA business is the one hotels never see
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EU pushes for unified reporting in short-term rental sector
The reforms target a rapidly growing European short-term rental sector where differing national rules have made cross-border data comparison and market assessment difficult.
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Direct Booking Hotels: Why Market Share Battles Mask Economic Wins
After a decade-long campaign for direct bookings, major hotel chains have secured better economics and lower commissions despite OTAs maintaining market dominance in 2026.
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How hotels are adapting to the EU and UK Accessibility Laws
The hotel industry is undergoing a structural shift in its digital operations as two major regulatory frameworks take effect across European markets.
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Amsterdam Court Backs Key Booking.com Arguments in German Hotel Price Parity Case
An Amsterdam court has upheld key elements of Booking.com’s position in a long-running dispute over hotel price parity rules in Germany, a decision that could have significant implications for online travel agency relationships and hotel…
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OpenAI's 'stunning admission': Maybe people don't want to book stuff inside ChatGPT
Not so long ago, OpenAI would announce a grand expansion, and stocks in the relevant sector would swoon. Now, the opposite is happening.
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PayPal, Sabre, and Mindtrip Launch Groundbreaking End-to-End AI Experience for Travel Industry
In an era where convenience and personalization are paramount, a groundbreaking partnership between Sabre Corporation, PayPal, and Mindtrip is poised to transform how small businesses engage with the travel industry. This strategic collaboration…
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Airbnb makes decisive move into hotels as experts warn of brand shift
Airbnb has officially entered the hotel market, marking a significant strategic shift for a company once defined by spare rooms, local hosts and the promise of “living like a local”.
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China's market regulator probes Trip.com over suspected abuse of market dominance
China's market regulator has opened a formal investigation into online travel platform Trip.com Group for suspected abuse of its dominant market position and monopolistic practices, according to an official notice released on Wednesday…
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Can the future of hotel reviews be completely AI-generated?
I feel that the scenario is no longer speculative. It is, if anything, the natural extension of where reputation systems are already heading. It is easy to imagine Tripadvisor, Google or any major OTA replacing the old free text box with a short…
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Food for Thought: Why Hospitality is Over Dependent on the OTAs?
Hospitality is the most dependent on the OTAs, compared to all other travel sectors: airlines, car rental companies and cruise lines.
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Booking.com and hotels increasingly go their separate ways
Hotels are reporting a significant recent drop-off in sales from online travel agencies (OTAs), particularly Booking.com, after “leaning” away from them in recent years, alongside other broader industry trends…
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OTAs Undercut Hotel Direct Rates in 75% of Searches
Biannual World Parity Monitor reveals the scale of price pressure on hotel direct channels — and where hotels still hold the advantage
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The Five Stages of Rate Parity Acceptance
Rate parity is an evergreen topic. I wrote an article on rate parity for hotels in 2023, and all the way back in 2015. It’s an issue that seems to stir up a lot of concern at the asset management and property levels…
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Research: OTAs Dominate as Primary Source in AI-Powered Hotel Discovery
Cloudbeds has released a new report titled The Signals Behind Hotel AI Recommendations. The study is the first in the hospitality industry to examine in detail how generative AI platforms identify and recommend hotels to travelers…
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Hotel glitch hits Thai travel scheme as bookings halted despite unused subsidies
Top hotels suspend bookings under ‘Half-Half Thai Travel 2025’ scheme due to system glitches.
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Should the Government be Regulating Commissions Hotels Pay to the OTAs?
Recently, the Switzerland’s price watchdog (Der Preisüberwacher / Le surveillant des prix) ruled that Booking’s hotel commissions were 'abusively high' and ordered the OTA to lower them by 25% for Swiss hotels…
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What is a metasearch engine? The ultimate guide for hotels
When travellers search for a hotel, they’re not just browsing, they’re comparing…
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