Expedia Group Announces New Partnerships and Technological Advancements to Expand its Travel Platform
Expedia Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) today announced a number of new partnerships and technological advancements at its EXPLORE 23 conference, hosted at its campus in Seattle, Washington. Among the new partners are Mastercard and SoFi, with technology upgrades to Travel OS and other useful features.
New Partnerships
- Mastercard
Expedia Group and Mastercard have joined forces to offer Mastercard holders the option to redeem credit card loyalty points for Expedia Group travel bookings, through a complete loyalty points redemption program called "Travel with Rewards." This new program will make it easier for Mastercard holders to use their points to book travel, and it will also help Expedia Group to attract more customers.
- SoFi
Expedia Group and SoFi have also partnered to create a new travel platform called SoFi Travel. This platform will allow SoFi members to book flights, hotels, cars, packages, activities, and vacation rentals through SoFi. SoFi Travel is expected to be launched in the coming months.
Technology Upgrades
Expedia Group has also announced a number of technology upgrades, including:
- Travel OS
Expedia Group has upgraded its Travel OS, which is a suite of software tools that helps travel companies to manage their operations. The upgraded Travel OS includes new fraud detection capabilities and a new Guest Experience Score, which will be published to travelers and hotel partners in the second half of 2023.
- One Key
Expedia Group has also expanded its One Key program, which offers member-only deals on hotels, cruises, and activities. The One Key program has now been expanded to include exclusive deals on flights. One Key is set to launch on July 6, 2023, in the United States.
- Expedia TAAP
Expedia Group has also enhanced its Expedia TAAP platform, which provides travel agents with access to Expedia Group's inventory and pricing. The enhancements to Expedia TAAP include new payment options and a new Live Agent chat feature.
Expedia Group CEO Comments
Peter Kern, Vice Chairman and CEO of Expedia Group, commented on the company's announcements, saying:
"Our growth in B2B is largely due to the pace at which our tech has been adopted by businesses of all sizes who want to either break into travel or expand their current travel offerings. The demand for this business continues to be strong as evidenced by our new partnerships with Mastercard, SoFi, and some of our biggest hotel partners."
"The work we’ve done in building a widespread B2B network that provides travel to millions around the world through leading names in banking, travel and more, will grow as we continue to establish our tech as the primary operating system for the travel industry."
Expedia Group is a leading global travel platform, connecting travelers with the widest choice of flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation rentals, activities, and packaged experiences. The company's mission is to empower people to experience the world.