Exclusive: Hopper Terminates Booking.com Partnership in Preemptive Strike
Photo Credit: Hopper founder and CEO Fred Lalonde (left) at Skift Global Forum 2023 in New York City. Skift
Skift Take
Hopper is in a much deeper state of hurt than it is letting on. It has a trimmed down vision to focus on direct hotel relationships after two of the biggest online travel agencies in the world departed as partners.
Fearing another Expedia-like breakup, Hopper abruptly ended its hotel partnership with Booking Holdings a week ago, Skift has exclusively learned.
Hopper feared another blow to its reputation if a second major online travel agency, namely Booking.com, went public about a soured partnership so soon after Expedia Group did so in July, several travel industry sources and former employees said. Hopper told employees it proactively disconnected Booking.com's accommodations supply last Friday, September 29.
Hopper was concerned how these hits on its brand reputation would impact business-to-business partnerships, such as with Capital One and other future distribution partnerships, as well as with existing airline partners, sources said.
Hopper announced a deal on September 27 that expanded its supply relationship with wholesalers Hotelbeds and WebBeds before Hopper disconnected Booking.com. Hopper was keen on terminating its relationship with Booking first
