Latest news with #GregSchulze
Hospitality Net
20-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Travel Priorities Reinvented: Expedia Group's 2025 Traveler Value Index Signals a Shift in Consumer Priorities
New research shows travel remains a top priority: 88% of global consumers plan a leisure trip in the next year, and 68% aim to book international travel — up 19% since 2022. Over 60% of travelers now turn to social media for inspiration, and 73% say influencer recommendations have influenced their booking decisions. Loyalty programs remain crucial: 83% of travelers want to redeem points for travel, and 82% are open to booking through non-travel loyalty programs like credit cards or retailers. SEATTLE – Expedia Group's latest research reveals significant shifts in how travelers plan and book travel compared to previous years, including a surge in social media influence and the impact of trust. Drawing on insights from over 11,000 consumers across 11 global markets, the 2025 Traveler Value Index offers a valuable roadmap for travel brands seeking to meet evolving expectations. In today's climate of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, understanding how travelers' plans, preferences, and values are shifting has never been more important. What's clear from this year's data is that, despite these changes, the desire to travel remains a fundamental part of everyone's lives. At Expedia Group, we provide partners with the insights and tools they need to meet these changing expectations and create exceptional experiences. Together, we can withstand any storm and help travelers turn their journeys into lasting memories. Greg Schulze, chief commercial officer at Expedia Group 2025 Traveler Value Index Key Findings: Travel importance remains high. With 50% of consumers saying it is more vital now than five years ago - highlighting travel's essential role in personal fulfillment. Despite ongoing uncertainties, 88% plan to take a leisure trip in the next 12 months, and two-thirds (68%) are likely to book international travel - a 19% increase since 2022. Additionally, travelers are increasingly embracing flexcations and bleisure trips, blending work and leisure to meet their evolving needs. Price is critical, but trust is essential too: Price remains a key factor, with 58% of consumers expecting to be more price-conscious in the next 12 months. However, trust is just as vital - three-quarters of travelers are willing to pay more for lodging with better reviews, underscoring the importance of confidence and reliability in their choices. Travelers are increasingly turning to social media for trip inspiration: Over half (61%) now find trip ideas on platforms, up from 35% in 2022. Additionally, 73% say influencer recommendations have influenced their decision to book a trip or travel component, emphasizing the growing importance of trustworthy, peer-driven insights. The desire to book travel through loyalty programs continues to grow: 83% of travelers consider travel their top category for redeeming loyalty points, while 82% are interested in booking travel through loyalty programs outside of the travel industry, such as credit cards or retailers, highlighting the expanding influence of non-travel loyalty rewards. Notable regional and generational differences emerge from the research: Consumers in China (87%), the UK (77%), and Germany (72%) are more likely to plan international trips within the next 12 months. Meanwhile, those under 40 show a stronger preference for blending work and leisure, often opting for bleisure and flexcation trips. For hotels, vacation rentals, activities, and cruises, positive reviews are a key decision factor - particularly for younger travelers, with 80% willing to pay more for lodging with better reviews. Air travel priorities vary: while affordability is most important across many regions, travelers in China seek contactless experiences, and those in Germany value full refunds the most. Canadians, Australians, French, and Italians also rank price as the leading consideration. Price remains the dominant factor for car rentals worldwide - especially in Canada, Australia, and the U.S. - but for those under 40, positive reviews are nearly as influential in decision-making. Finally, younger travelers, particularly under 40, are more heavily swayed by social media; 84% report that influencer recommendations have impacted their booking choices. Actionable insights Partners can leverage these latest trends and create actionable strategies for their business with the full report and key takeaways here. Methodology The 2025 Traveler Value Index was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Expedia Group. The study surveyed 11,000 nationally representative adults aged 18+ across 11 key markets: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the UK, and the US. Fieldwork was conducted between February 14 and March 3, 2025, via an online survey. The data was weighted to ensure demographic representation. Comparisons are made against Expedia Group's 2023 Traveler Value Index, which was conducted in July 2022. About Expedia Group Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Our organization is made up of three pillars: Expedia Product & Technology, focused on the group's product and technical strategy and offerings; Expedia Brands, housing all our consumer brands; and Expedia for Business, consisting of business-to-business solutions and relationships throughout the travel ecosystem. The Expedia Group family of brands includes Expedia®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, and Expedia Cruises™. © 2023 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50 Follow Expedia on Instagram , TikTok , Pinterest , Twitter and YouTube . View source
Tourism Breaking News
05-03-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Emirates and Expedia Group expand partnership to deliver simpler, personalised booking experiences
Post Views: 81 Emirates and Expedia Group have expanded their long-standing partnership through the airline's full integration of its New Distribution Capability (NDC) API with Expedia Group's brands, establishing a direct connection that delivers Emirates' complete portfolio of fare products and services to Expedia Group's global customer base. This latest enhancement will empower millions of travellers to unlock a wider range of options and benefit from streamlined booking capabilities on Expedia Group's brands when planning their journeys to any point on the airline's global network. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: 'We are proud to expand our partnership with Expedia Group, allowing travellers on the platform to personalise their booking experience with Emirates. Looking ahead, our enhanced collaboration will provide travellers with seamless access to Emirates' NDC content while expanding booking possibilities across all elements of their journey.' Greg Schulze, Chief Commercial Officer, Expedia Group said: 'Our expanded partnership with Emirates marks a significant step in elevating the travel experience. This collaboration gives our global travelers more customised options and easier bookings, allowing them to create unique trips that suit their needs. Ultimately, it's about making every journey a lasting memory for our travelers.' The full integration will enable Expedia Group to offer Emirates' NDC fares, products and ancillary services including extra baggage and seat selection, along with other improved features and flexibility in their booking journeys. In addition to customer personalisation, Emirates and Expedia Group will explore deeper collaboration on loyalty programmes to enhance travel rewards for both companies' customers. They will leverage market data insights to drive business growth and inform joint marketing initiatives. The partnership will also focus on creating end-to-end booking experiences by leveraging Expedia Group's extensive global hotel inventory for full package solutions. The tailor-made air and hotel packages will allow travellers to complement their Emirates flights with stays at thousands of hotels available on Expedia Group's brands. The work underway will enable the airline to connect with and capture the attention of travellers from around the world.
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Emirates and Expedia Group expand partnership to deliver simpler, personalised booking experiences
Berlin, Germany: Emirates, the world's largest international airline, and Expedia Group have expanded their long-standing partnership through the airline's full integration of its New Distribution Capability (NDC) API with Expedia Group's brands, establishing a direct connection that delivers Emirates' complete portfolio of fare products and services to Expedia Group's global customer base. This latest enhancement will empower millions of travellers to unlock a wider range of options and benefit from streamlined booking capabilities on Expedia Group's brands when planning their journeys to any point on the airline's global network. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: "We are proud to expand our partnership with Expedia Group, allowing travellers on the platform to personalise their booking experience with Emirates. Looking ahead, our enhanced collaboration will provide travellers with seamless access to Emirates' NDC content while expanding booking possibilities across all elements of their journey." Greg Schulze, Chief Commercial Officer, Expedia Group said: 'Our expanded partnership with Emirates marks a significant step in elevating the travel experience. This collaboration gives our global travelers more customised options and easier bookings, allowing them to create unique trips that suit their needs. Ultimately, it's about making every journey a lasting memory for our travelers.' The full integration will enable Expedia Group to offer Emirates' NDC fares, products and ancillary services including extra baggage and seat selection, along with other improved features and flexibility in their booking journeys. In addition to customer personalisation, Emirates and Expedia Group will explore deeper collaboration on loyalty programmes to enhance travel rewards for both companies' customers. They will leverage market data insights to drive business growth and inform joint marketing initiatives. The partnership will also focus on creating end-to-end booking experiences by leveraging Expedia Group's extensive global hotel inventory for full package solutions. The tailor-made air and hotel packages will allow travellers to complement their Emirates flights with stays at thousands of hotels available on Expedia Group's brands. The work underway will enable the airline to connect with and capture the attention of travellers from around the world. About Emirates Emirates is the world's largest international airline, connecting travellers to more than 140 cities. Emirates operates the world's largest fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380s, and now flies the Airbus A350, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features across its fleet. With a culturally diverse workforce, Emirates caters to its global customer base by delivering exceptional services and world-class products and has earned customer recognition for its industry-leading services on the ground and in the sky. About Expedia Group Expedia Group, Inc. brands power travel for everyone, everywhere through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success, while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. Expedia Group's three flagship consumer brands include: Expedia®, and Vrbo®. For more information, visit Follow us on X @expediagroup and check out our LinkedIn.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines, MKE's largest air carrier, to offer booking on Expedia platforms
You can now book tickets for Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier serving Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, on the travel booking site Expedia. It's a big change for the airline, which previously required customers to book directly through its channels. "We are pleased to broaden our distribution with this new cost-effective channel," Tony Roach, executive vice president of customer and brand at Southwest Airlines, said in a statement. "Expedia provides a high-quality experience, and we look forward to partnering with them to introduce new travelers to our extensive network and Southwest hospitality." Southwest began listing fares on Google Flights in May 2024 but still required would-be customers to click through to the airline website to book. Earlier this month, the Milwaukee airport also debuted a new online tool allowing travelers to book flights, view flight routes and plan trip itineraries in one centralized location. Like Google Flights, MKE's "Where We Fly" tool redirects users to the Southwest site. Now, all Expedia-owned sites, including Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz and CheapTickets, will show and allow customers to book Southwest fares. "Southwest Airlines is a beloved brand known for its customer-first service and operational excellence. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to offer the most travel options and deliver exceptional value to our customers," Greg Schulze, Expedia group chief commercial officer, said in a statement. According to Expedia, it will take some time for all of Southwest's flights to get loaded into the system, but the airline's full schedule should be bookable on Expedia platforms by the end of the day on Thursday. According to the Milwaukee airport, Southwest offers 17 nonstop flight destinations from MKE, including service between Milwaukee and Austin launching March 6. Southwest is also adding service between MKE and San Diego this fall. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Southwest Airlines to start selling tickets on Expedia
USA Today
26-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
You can now book Southwest Airlines flights on Expedia platforms
You can now book Southwest Airlines flights on Expedia platforms Show Caption Hide Caption Southwest to launch overnight flights Southwest Airlines overnight flights are coming soon. Fox - LA Southwest Airlines tickets can now be purchased on Expedia-owned websites. This partnership marks a significant shift for Southwest, which previously only allowed bookings through its own platforms. The move aims to expand Southwest's reach to new customers and align its services with competitors. Southwest Airlines tickets are now available on Expedia. It's a big change for the airline, which previously required customers to book directly on its channels. "We are pleased to broaden our distribution with this new cost-effective channel,' Tony Roach, executive vice president Customer & Brand at Southwest Airlines, said in a statement. 'Expedia provides a high-quality experience, and we look forward to partnering with them to introduce new travelers to our extensive network and Southwest hospitality." Southwest began listing fares on Google Flights in May 2024 but still required would-be customers to click through to the airline website to book. Now, all Expedia-owned sites, including Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz and CheapTickets, will show and allow customers to book Southwest fares. Cruising Altitude: Stop flying with your kids on your laps. Here's what experts say. "Southwest Airlines is a beloved brand known for its customer-first service and operational excellence. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to offer the most travel options and deliver exceptional value to our customers," Greg Schulze, Expedia Group Chief Commercial Officer, said in a statement. According to Expedia, it will take some time for all of Southwest's flights to get loaded into the system, but the airline's full schedule should be bookable on Expedia platforms by the end of the day on Thursday. It's just one of many changes bringing Southwest in line with its competitors. The airline plans to roll out assigned seating, as well as a new cabin layout with extra legroom seats, in the coming months. Southwest also recently began its first-ever redeye flights. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
