Expedia Group

The upcoming Concacaf match between Mexico and Jamaica is expected to be an exciting affair, with both teams fielding their top talents to claim victory. While Jamaica has proven to be a formidable opponent in the past, Mexico's recent successes make them a strong contender for the win. Here are some of the key factors that will determine the outcome of the game. Mexico's firepower Mexico boasts a strong offense, with players like Raul Jimenez, Hirving Lozano, and Jesus Corona leading the charge. Jimenez, in particular, has been in exceptional form, scoring six goals in his last three games for...

Cloud property management system WebRezPro has achieved preferred connectivity partner status with Expedia Group for 2023, conferring early access to new tools and features as well as the ability to shape future products. WebRezPro, which provides an integrated solution to help lodging operators manage their properties across Expedia Group channels, was awarded the status based on meeting technical and performance criteria to ensure a quality connection with a reliable user experience, among other factors. The accolade is part of Expedia Group's annual Connectivity Partner Program, which recognises and rewards select top-performing connectivity partners. Read further.

"Set-jetting," the act of traveling to destinations featured in movies and TV shows, has become the top travel trend of 2023, according to a study by Expedia. The study found that 39 percent of travelers were inspired to visit places they had seen on-screen, with shows such as Emily in Paris, White Lotus, and Succession driving recent bookings. Expedia's free rewards program offers exclusive discounts on hotels, flights, and travel packages to these destinations, allowing set-jetters to explore on a non-Hollywood budget. Expedia's top set-jetting destinations for 2023 include New York City, the United Kingdom, Hawaii, Paris, and Italy, all...

ChatGPT, the conversational AI tool, has launched a set of plugins, including two from travel sector giants Expedia and Booking Holdings (via Kayak and Opentable), allowing users to engage in travel suggestions and have access to up-to-date information and links for booking via respective websites. This marks the first example of the convergence of conversational AI technology and travel booking. The plugins are currently only available to select ChatGPT Plus users, but more access will be rolled out over time. The technology could revolutionise the way users plan and book travel. Read further.

Online travel agency (OTA) loveholidays has appointed Dan Craig as its chief product officer. Craig was previously head of product management at Expedia, and will lead the firm’s product team as it expands its platform, which allows customers to create their own holidays from a variety of hotel and flight options. Craig follows in the footsteps of Rick Kershaw, who became the company’s chief human resources officer in November. Loveholidays aims to take on 110 new staff over the course of the current financial year as it continues to grow rapidly. Read further.

The SHR Group, an industry-leading provider of hospitality technology solutions, has achieved 2023 Elite Partner status with Expedia Group, a leading online travel company. This designation is an invitation-only program that recognizes the company's outstanding performance and commitment to customer success. The SHR Group has a strong track record of innovation and technology leadership, particularly in the areas of revenue management, distribution, and guest engagement. Its flagship product, Windsurfer CRS, is a one-stop shop for hotels and resorts, offering them an easy-to-use, all-in-one solution for managing inventory, rates, and reservations across all online channels. Expedia Group's Elite Partner program is...

OpenAI has developed a new ChatGPT plugin that it plans to launch gradually, with companies including Expedia, Instacart and OpenTable among the first to develop ChatGPT-enabled plugins. The ChatGPT plugin will allow the AI program to gain access to external information and events after 2021, even information considered "too specific" to be included in training data. Potential uses for individual plugins will vary according to the website. Expedia is one platform readying a ChatGPT plugin that offers up-to-date information on flights and travel costs. However, OpenAI acknowledges the potential risks the plugin poses, particularly in relation to safety concerns. OpenAI...

Summer travel is always exciting but going to international destinations can be even more so. According to Expedia, summer vacation planning has increased by 50% YoY with Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand, France, and Italy being the most sought-after destinations this year. Searches for Japan have increased by 771% in Osaka and 336% in Tokyo. Japan is known for its gastronomy, culture, and modern appeal. Vietnam has seen a significant hike in searches and bookings, with cities like Hanoi having a search and book rate of up to 298%. New Zealand may be far from North America, but searches for its...

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited, a provider of SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality, has achieved Elite Connectivity Partner status with the Expedia Group. The Elite status is awarded to connectivity providers who maintain high-quality connections and help lodging partners grow their business on the Expedia Group marketplace. RateGain will work directly with the Expedia Group to help shape its future products and technology solutions. To achieve Elite status, Expedia Group connectivity providers are rated on technical and business criteria, including enabling capabilities integrated with the Expedia Group travel platform, providing a quality connection with user experience, and supporting onboarding and...