Booking Holdings

Airbnb, which is very standoffish when it comes to paying for digital ads on Google.com and Google Travel, is winning the marketing sweepstakes by a landslide. Not even close.

Booking Holdings’ empire is one of the most valuable in the travel industry. We break down the six major brands that bring home the money.

Retaining its focus on short-term rentals would probably be the largest contributor to any competitive moat that Airbnb has. Neither of its two largest rivals has that luxury.

The promise of a "connected trip" has become like the buffering wheel on a lagging digital screen. But a soft launch of a new TUI Tours platform could be one to watch in the push for flexible, frictionless travel booking.

With hotels seeing a big bounce in bookings, so too can they expect to see more so-called rogue rates creeping back. These are rates that they’ve not authorized, and are…

There can be value in jumping into new business opportunities right away, especially for young startups. But for established companies like Booking.com, the slow and steady approach may be best.

Summer 2023 is shaping up to what could be a peak period of record growth as travel companies play to the strengths of aspirational, multi-gen family travel unfettered by inflationary price increases.

Booking Holdings was in hiring mode in 2022, particularly in Asia Pacific. That should be nice timing given the China reopening.

How would Expedia and its Vrbo unit compete in short-term rentals against a juggernaut like Airbnb? Set realistic expectations and play to your strengths.

The sure bet is that the major online travel agencies will use some cash to buy back shares in 2023 unless the economy tanks. Less sexy than acquisitions, but good for shareholders. Still, that leaves plenty of money for some possible headline-making deals.