Priceline Group CEO: We Have Double the Hotel Bookings of Expedia

While Expedia dominated headlines with its more than $6 billion worth of acquisitions in 2015, the Priceline Group needs to win the narrative back and CEO Darren Huston made his case about his company's competitive advantages. "Our capabilities and scale in partner acquisition, customer experience, and efficient demand generation plus our large installed base of accommodations and loyal travelers give the Priceline Group a competitive moat that is deep and wide," Huston said. [For Huston's elaboration on these points, see excerpts from the Priceline Group's fourth quarter earnings call February 17 at the bottom of this post.] If there were any doubts that Huston's comments were at least in part an answer to some of Expedia's gains, including Expedia's 39 percent fourth quarter growth in room nights sold, although they were pumped up by acquisitions, then consider this Huston zinger: "Our customers made reservations for over 432 million room nights on Priceline Group platforms