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Accor reports flat business travel demand

🏠 Aug 5, 2025, Accor reported a 2.5% revenue increase in H1 2025, reaching €2.7 billion, driven by leisure travel. Systemwide RevPAR grew 4.1%. Business travel remained flat, impacting the key European markets, especially the U.K. and Germany, amid economic challenges. Paris showed strong performance compared to regional France. Accor anticipates slower revenue growth in H2 due to post-Olympic effects but maintains its full-year RevPAR growth guidance of 3-4%.
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The new shape of American travel in 2025

📰 August 5, 2025, Skift's report on U.S. Traveler Trends 2025 reveals evolving travel habits: 66% of Americans embarked on leisure trips focused on relaxation and experiences. AI tools like ChatGPT aid nearly 33% in trip planning, while over 50% book via social media. Direct bookings fell to 41%, favoring OTAs for convenience. Rising costs lead to mid-range lodging choices. The report also compares U.S. trends with China, India, France, and the UK.
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Amadeus sees slowing airline bookings growth in q2

✈ Aug 5, 2025, Amadeus experienced a slowdown in global travel demand, with air bookings increasing by only 1.5% in Q2, compared to 2.5% in Q1 and 9% in Q4 2024. Asia-Pacific bookings grew 10.8%, while Latin America declined by 5.3%. Distribution revenue rose 6.1% to €786.7 million, and net profit grew 11.3% to €372.1 million. Seventeen new airline agreements were signed, totaling 74 NDC agreements.
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Booking Holdings leads in undercutting hotel rates

💸 Jul 31, 2025, 123Compare.me's June World Parity Monitor report reveals that Booking Holdings platforms, including Agoda (39.8% lowest) and affiliates like Traveluro, are the top undercutters of hotel direct rates. Hotels should exclude or renegotiate with disruptive intermediaries, monitor reactive channels, and observe passive ones. The report uses metrics like % Lowest and lose cases to assess and rank risk. For a detailed analysis, visit 123Compare.me.
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How Google’s AI search is reshaping hotel visibility

💻 Jul 31, 2025: Google’s AI, powered by the Gemini 2.5 model, is transforming hotel searches from keywords to conversational requests, with AI overviews appearing in 30% of travel queries. This shift demands hotels focus on answer engine optimization (AEO) rather than just SEO. Google's Project Mariner enables direct bookings via AI, pressing hotels to integrate booking APIs. Personalization now considers behavior and context, urging hotels to adapt or risk invisibility.
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Amex GBT and CWT merger clears key hurdle

💰 Jul 31, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice dropped its lawsuit against the $570 million merger of American Express Global Business Travel and CWT. The merger, set to close in Q3, will create a $45.5 billion industry leader, doubling BCD Travel's $23 billion sales. Despite the UK’s CMA approval, antitrust concerns persist about price increases and reduced innovation. Amex GBT argues that competition remains strong from tech-driven and traditional agencies. Independent companies criticize the merger’s potential oligopolistic effects.
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Booking.com bullish on AI’s role in travel search

🗺️ Jul 31, 2025: Booking.com is leveraging large language models (LLMs) and AI tools, viewing them as opportunities in travel discovery, not threats. With 60% direct traffic, traditional channels remain strong. The company plans its own "travel model" and uses AI to enhance customer service, including voice agents. Social media marketing spending rose 25% YoY. Financially, Q2 2025 revenue increased 16% to $6.8 billion, with 309 million room nights booked.
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Booking Holdings beats expectations with strong Q2 growth

🗺 Company reports double-digit gains in bookings and revenue as of July 31, 2025, driven by European and Asian markets. Who? Booking Holdings. When? Q2 2025. Where? Europe, Asia, U.S. What? Room nights up 8% to 309 million; gross bookings $46.7 billion (+13%); revenue $6.8 billion (+16%); EBITDA +28%. How? AI initiatives like Priceline’s Penny and Kayak.AI; $45 million Q2 savings from restructuring. Why? Steady travel demand; increased AI contributions.
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Global business travel spending to hit $1.57 trillion in 2025

🛫 Jul 31, 2025: Global business travel spending expected to reach $1.57 trillion, growing at 6.6% in 2025 amidst trade tensions and economic uncertainty. By 2029, spending should surpass $2 trillion. The U.S. leads with $395.4 billion, trailed by China at $373.1 billion. Fast growth seen in India, South Korea, and Turkey, while Spain and the Netherlands lag. Average trip spending hits $1,128. Payment trends show 69% corporate card access, 64% mobile wallet use, especially in Asia Pacific.
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EV chargers emerge as top booking driver for Hilton

🚗 Jul 25, 2025. Hilton's top-converting amenity is electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, surpassing pools and free breakfast. Hilton plans to install up to 20,000 chargers across North America, forming the largest hotel overnight charging network. Marriott has over 7,000 chargers globally. Approximately 25% of U.S. hotels offer EV charging, with growth noted in Europe. EV owners, often earning above $100,000, are a valuable market. Airbnb listings with EV chargers outperform those without.
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