Posts by day

May 23, 2025

57 posts
View Post
  • 1 min

OTA stocks bounce back

📈 May 23, 2025: OTA stocks rebounded after Q1 2025 earnings exceeded expectations. Expedia faced challenges due to U.S. dependence, but most firms surpassed EBITDA forecasts. Airbnb projected a $1B+ revenue from new services. Expedia saw a 1.5% decline in B2C revenue but beat EBITDA expectations through cost management. Geographic diversification offset U.S. travel weakness, with strong intra-European and Canadian outbound travel trends.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 2 min

GDS hotel bookings poised for strong growth through 2030

🏨 May 23, 2025, GDS strategy becomes pivotal for hotel revenue growth globally. In 2024, hotels paid $2.1 billion in GDS commissions, 5% of global hotel commissions. North America (5%), Europe (4.3%), and Asia-Pacific (4%+) vary in GDS usage. New Zealand (11%) and Australia (10.5%) lead in national markets. Luxury hotels hold a 6%-7% GDS share, while midscale hotels fall below 3%. By 2030, travel agency bookings are expected to grow by 125%.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

Why guest segmentation matters more than ever for hotels

📈 May 23, 2025, hotels face shifting guest expectations and economic uncertainty. 81% of consumers prefer personalized experiences, making guest segmentation essential. Generic marketing is ineffective, with mass emails often ignored. Segmentation based on booking history and preferences improves engagement. Use existing data like past stays and spending habits for effective segmentation. Tailored messaging enhances acquisition, bookings, and loyalty. An available guide offers five segmentation strategies to implement today. Access it at Cendyn's website.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

How to get a free hotel upgrade without asking for one

🏨 May 23, 2025, travel experts at Expedia reveal strategies for free hotel upgrades. When? Travel during off-peak seasons for better odds. Where? Popular locales like Dubai. Who? Friendly, respectful guests. What? Mention real celebrations for thoughtful upgrades. How? Use subtlety instead of demands; communicate early with the hotel. Why? Kindness and charm can lead to perks without spending extra. For more details, visit [TimeOut](https://www.timeoutdubai.com/news/how-to-get-free-hotel-upgrade).
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 1 min

U.S. travel at a crossroads: Leaders call for urgent action

🌎 May 23, 2025, Seattle: At Expedia's EXPLORE conference, leaders like Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin and U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman highlighted declining international arrivals and economic pressures. They urged investment and policy reform ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to harness its potential for travel growth. Key issues include infrastructure investment, simplified processes, and improved visitor experiences. Despite challenges, economic softness may lead to travel deals for U.S. vacationers this summer.
View Post
Share
View Post
  • 2 min

Kayak pivots from search to AI-driven travel assistant

🛫 May 23, 2025, global travel: AI revolutionizes the industry with Kayak.ai, a ChatGPT-style assistant transforming traditional booking tools. Users engage conversationally with AI for travel planning and bookings, removing friction and enhancing personalization. Kayak focuses on corporate travel to test AI capabilities, emphasizing privacy and security. The goal: input travel goals and receive optimized itineraries. Kayak aims to shift from a search platform to a personalized AI travel companion.
View Post
Share