Expedia News

Vrbo has been in the right place(s) at the right time, somewhat reversing a very challenged 2019. Is the changed trajectory a momentary blip in the throes of a pandemic, or will it be sustainable?

Nothing like a world-shattering crisis to force companies to look into the mirror and contemplate a makeover. Will consumer travel preferences change forever because of coronavirus? Forever is a very long time.

All the recent search-and-booking activity for historically less-visited destinations will make it easier for them to justify marketing expenditures even after the pandemic wanes, says Expedia's Cyril Ranque. Could be true, given the curious logic of algorithms.

Vrbo is one of the only major short-term rental platforms with advertising opportunities. This, combined with its valuable, high-spending audience of family and group travelers, will likely make it an appealing offering to brands.

Regarding this particular shareholder proposal on increased transparency about political contributions, the stockholder who mattered the most was Barry Diller. But if the political winds in the U.S. are indeed changing, then corporations may find themselves under increased pressure to be transparent and to do the right thing.

Booking Holdings may be calculating that partner memories aren't exceedingly long. On the other hand, with additional layoffs a possibility at flagship brand Booking.com, the parent company has its own problems to deal with.

Airbnb would have been eviscerated had it focused on a relief package for hosts that was primarily marketing credits. Expedia's recovery plan for partners isn't philanthropy, but although the company will likely take a revenue hit, it will benefit from increased partner engagement as the travel industry bounces back.

Expedia Group is trying to simplify its far-flung operations, and its multifamily, short-term rental business wasn't a core endeavor. That's especially true when you consider how Covid-19 has decimated demand for such properties in urban areas.

Many companies won't reopen for business when coronavirus ebbs, but two that will definitely still be left standing will be Expedia Group and Airbnb. They could potentially find ways to cooperate in the face of bigger threats in the form of Google and Booking.com.

Can Expedia Group wean itself away from Google, and avoid performance marketing spending when it doesn't hit return on investment targets? New CEO Peter Kern said the coronavirus crisis presents an opportunity to chase these goals. Kern will be judged on what progress he can make toward achieving such previously elusive ambitions.