Expedia News

Hotels optimally would love if more of their customers paid at the property, instead of guests prepaying to online travel agencies, so they should take any increased burden from Expedia's new program in stride.

Purchasing via a mobile device has particular challenges -- privacy concerns, smaller keyboards -- you don't worry about on a desktop, but the potential for new business means that travel companies are quickly adapting to make buying things easier.

With some 30 travel bloggers picking up occasional checks from Expedia, the online travel agency is beating its rivals in this arena in a rout. Meanwhile, these bloggers may lose credibility if they come to be viewed as merely shilling for Expedia.

Desktops bookings are still in the majority, but booking sites are turning more of their energy in finding new revenue opportunities with mobile devices.

This Slate articles battles the pros and cons of online hotel reviews which benefit from crowd-sourced opinions, but are vulnerable to the schemers who skew testimonies in their favor.

In its direct-travel sales, Groupon could be taking a page out of Expedia's playbook -- partner with a company, learn the ropes, and eventually shut them out and do it on your own.

The provisional decision in the UK about hotels' and OTAs' pricing practices is a shot heard round the world. If other countries pile on, the dollars at stake would be huge.

OTAs are mirroring global macro trends, but are also hurting as airlines cut back on capacity to cut costs.

We said this was big news last week, but if Booking.com's success with both customers, sellers, and investors is any barometer Expedia's move will be welcomed by everyone.

Expedia is looking to push its travel expertise with this new campaign and tie into the inspirational nature of travel rather than advertising its deals or site functionality.