Automatic

💻 Jun 9, 2025, UK: Lloyds becomes the first UK bank to offer in-app travel bookings through its banking app, employing Hopper's AI technology. The service includes features like Price Prediction, Best Price Guarantee, and Price Drop Protection. This integration reflects a broader trend of embedding travel services in financial platforms, driven by significant consumer spending in travel. The move encourages hotels to diversify beyond traditional booking channels due to evolving customer demands for all-in-one solutions.

💸 Jun 9, 2025: Booking Holdings, Expedia Group, Airbnb, and Trip.com Group spent $4.5 billion on marketing in Q1 2025, following a $17.8 billion spend in 2024. Booking Holdings increased direct bookings to mid-60%, Expedia launched the AI tool Trip Matching on Instagram, and Airbnb expanded in Spain, Italy, Brazil, India, and Japan. Trip.com increased marketing by 30%, targeting seniors. These strategies aim to reduce reliance on Google and enhance brand control.

📖 Jun 9, 2025—AI is reshaping hotel search dynamics, highlighting Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) as a key strategy. GEO is essential as AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini influence travel discovery. Traditional SEO remains crucial but insufficient alone. Hotels must enhance their digital presence, ensuring branded web mentions are frequent and consistent. Early GEO adopters may gain a competitive advantage in AI-driven searches. For more, visit the original article at Ahrefs.

🚀 Jun 4, 2025, Amadeus invests in Acai Travel, a New York-based Generative AI startup. The investment aims to boost AI-powered automation for OTAs, TMCs, and airlines, enhancing operational efficiency with a 50% reduction in handling times. This aligns with industry priorities, as 46% of travel leaders focus on Generative AI. Both companies are committed to improving traveler experiences and reducing costs, supporting a new workforce with AI integration. Financial terms were undisclosed.