Expedia's Increased Focus on Its Partner Business Is Starting to Pay Off
Photo Credit: Expedia Group CEO Peter Kern (right) in discussion with Skift Executive Editor Dennis Schaal at Skift Global Forum in New York City on Sept. 22, 2021. Skift / Matt Matieiscu
Skift Take
Expedia Group's strategy to reshape the company is starting to come together, as shown in its partner business. But the grand master plan is a multiyear endeavor.
Expedia Group experienced several high-profile wins (Delta Air Lines for car rentals) and losses (Chase for flights and cars) in its partner business in recent months, but its effort overall to seize more opportunity in its business-to-business segment started to show progress in the second quarter.
Since becoming Expedia Group CEO in 2020, Peter Kern has been trying to simplify Expedia's operations by shedding brands and consolidating teams that were sometimes working at cross-purposes. He also decided to invest more heavily in Expedia Group's partner business.
During the company's second quarter earnings call with analysts Thursday, officials recounted how the company ceased powering flights and cars for Chase in February (it still provides lodging), and in the second quarter began providing car rentals to Delta.com to supplement the hotels it was already supplying.
Chase is poised to
