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Expedia Group

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Expedia Group, Inc.
FormerlyExpedia, Inc.
Company typePublic
ISINUS65248E2037
IndustryTravel technology
PredecessorLiberty Expedia Holdings
FoundedOctober 22, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-10-22)
FounderRich Barton
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
United States
Key people
Products
RevenueIncrease US$13.69 billion (2024)
Increase US$1.319 billion (2024)
Increase US$1.234 billion (2024)
Total assetsIncrease US$22.39 billion (2024)
Total equityIncrease US$2.799 billion (2024)
Number of employees
16,500 (2024)
ParentMicrosoft (1996–1999)
Websiteexpediagroup.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

Expedia Group, Inc. is an American travel technology company that owns and operates travel fare aggregators and travel metasearch engines, including Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Travelocity, Hotwire.com, Orbitz, Ebookers, CheapTickets, CarRentals.com, Expedia Cruises, Wotif, and Trivago.[1] Over 3.5 million lodging facilities and flights on over 500 airlines are bookable on the company's websites.[1] It has 16,500 employees, and its headquarters are located in Seattle, Washington.

The word "Expedia" is derived from a combination of "exploration" and "speed".[2] The company is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol EXPE.

History

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Founded as a division of Microsoft in October 1996,[3] Expedia was spun off into a public company in 1999.[4] IAC, known at the time as USA Networks Inc, acquired a controlling interest in the company in 2001[5] and acquired the remainder of the company in 2003.[6] In August 2005, IAC spun off the company.[7] In December 2011, Expedia, Inc. spun off TripAdvisor.[8]

The company's headquarters moved from Bellevue, Washington to Seattle in 2019.[2][9]

In February 2020, Expedia announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs, roughly 12% of the workforce, citing a "disappointing 2019". Diller, in his role as acting CEO, stated the company had become "sclerotic and bloated" and that employees were "all life and no work".[10] The company announced another reduction in workforce in February 2024, aiming to reduce 1,500 employees, 208 of which are from the Seattle office.[3]

In 2023, Expedia Group launched One Key, a unified loyalty program for Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. This allowed users to earn and use rewards across the three brands.[11][12]

In 2024, Expedia Group launched Travel Shops, a platform that enables influencers and content creators to earn commissions by promoting hotels and travel accommodations.[13]

Expedia Group's AI-powered travel tool launched in 2024 and allows Expedia customers to plan and manage trips.[14]

Acquisition history

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Date Company Business Value (USD) References
March 17, 2000 Travelscape Travel Agency $89,750,000 [15]
March 17, 2001 Vacationspot Hotel Booking Engine $70,850,000 [16]
March 11, 2002 Classic Custom Vacations[note 1] Travel agency $78,000,000 [17]
July 11, 2002 Metropolitan Travel Travel agency — [18]
October 28, 2002 Newtrade Technologies Reservation software — [19]
April 5, 2004 Activity World Travel and touring — [20]
April 12, 2004 Egencia Travel agency — [21]
July 15, 2008 Venere.com Hotel Booking Engine €200,000,000 [22]
October 18, 2010 Mobiata Mobile App Developer — [23]
July 21, 2011 Your Unlimited Adventures Travel Management Company $11,400,000 [24]
April 27, 2012 VIA Travel Travel Management Company — [25]
March 12, 2013 trivago GmbH Hotel Metasearch Engine €477,000,000 in cash and stock [26][27][28]
May 17, 2013 Go Adventure Pro Travel Agency $11,600,000 [29]
July 6, 2014 Wotif Travel Agency $657,000,000 [30]
October 10, 2014 The Ocean Adventures Travel Agency $10,600,000 [31]
January 14, 2015 Around the World Vacation Rentals Travel Agency $12,800,000 [32]
January 23, 2015 Travelocity Travel Agency $280,000,000 [33][34]
September 17, 2015 Orbitz Travel Agency $1.6 billion [35][36]
September 28, 2015 Mizuho Finances Corp Travel Agency $14,200,000 [37]
November 4, 2015 HomeAway Holiday Rental Service $3.9 billion [38][39]
October 25, 2018 Pillow Short-Term Rental Management — [40]
October 25, 2018 ApartmentJet Short-Term Rental Management — [41]
August 22, 2019 CanadaStays Holiday Rental Service — [42]

Divestitures

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Date Acquirer Target company Value (USD) References
April 10, 2005 Eviivo RezOvation and Webervations Unknown [43]
March 1, 2021 Najafi Companies Classic Vacations Unknown [44]
November 2, 2021 American Express Global Business Travel Egencia Unknown [45][46]
Expedia Cruises
FormerlyCruiseShipCenters International
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTravel industry, franchising
Founded1987; 39 years ago (1987)
Headquarters
Vancouver, British Columbia
,
Canada
Key people
Matthew Eichhorst (president)
ParentExpedia Group
Websitewww.expediacruises.com

Expedia Cruises

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Expedia Cruises, formerly CruiseShipCenters International, is a travel agency franchise company established in 1987.[47] In 2024, it had 260 locations in North America, and beyond cruises, booked "luxury and expedition travel, river cruises, land tours, safaris, all-inclusive resort properties and insurance."[48] In 2021, it had 6,100 vacation consultants in the US and Canada.[49]

History

[edit]

CruiseShipCenters International was established as a travel agency franchise[50] in Vancouver in 1987.[47] In 2007, Expedia bought a "significant but non-controlling" interest in cruise vacation specialists CruiseShipCenters International, then based in Vancouver. At the time, CruiseShipCenters had 100 retail locations in Canada, and booked 20% of all cruises sold in the country. In 2007, it had projected annual revenues of $305 million, with 1,500 cruise consultants. Expedia announced it would expand the company into the United States as well.[50] As of March 2013, Expedia Inc owned 100% of the company.

As of 2014, it retained its corporate office in Vancouver.[51] With franchises in states such as Nevada by 2016,[52] in February 2017, the Expedia division had 190 locations in North America.[53] In 2018, Expedia CruiseShipCenters was expanding in Texas.[54] In 2018, it had over $790 million in gross bookings. In September 2019, the company announced its 300th franchise agreement in North America. Matthew Eichhorst served as president.[55] In 2020, the Expedia CruiseShipCenters rebranded to Expedia Cruises with the tag line Air, Land & Sea Vacations.

It had 290 franchise locations in 2021, and 6,100 vacation consultants in the US and Canada.[49] In 2024, it had 260 locations in North America, and beyond cruises, booked "luxury and expedition travel, river cruises, land tours, safaris, all-inclusive resort properties and insurance."[48] Eichhorst remained president in 2025.[56]

[edit]

Delays in refunds of flights cancelled due to COVID-19

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In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, customers complained regarding the process to get refunds for cancelled flights. Customers complained of excessively long call times and being unable to get through to a representative.[57] This led to many lawsuits.[58][59]

Involvement in Israeli settlements

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See also: List of companies operating in West Bank settlements

On February 12, 2020, Expedia Group was included on a list of companies operating in West Bank settlements involved in activities that "raised particular human rights concerns" published by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The company was categorized under "the provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements".[60][61]

False advertising and trademark violation incident (2016-2021)

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In August 2016, Buckeye Tree Lodge and Sequoia Village Inn, LLC filed a class-action lawsuit in California accusing the company and its partners of violating trademark rights of numerous independent hotel and motel establishments by running advertising implying that consumers could book reservations for those hotels on Expedia even though Expedia had no relationship with those hotels, in violation of the Lanham Act, and also falsely noting that hotels with which the company had no relationship were "sold out".[62] In April 2021, the lawsuit was settled and the company promised not to engage in false advertising.

Australian false advertising lawsuit[note 2]

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Main article: Trivago § Legal issues

In a civil case spanning from August 2018 to April 2022, Trivago, a member of the Expedia Group, was found to have violated Australian Consumer Law through false advertising and was fined $32.91 million USD.[63][64] Trivago advertised its online lodging search engine as capable of finding the cheapest deal and/or best rate, when in reality, it would prioritize listings based on their price-per-click.[64][65] As a result, listings by larger conglomerates, including those by the Expedia Group and it's subsidies, were disproportionately represented on Trivago, even appearing more than once for each hotel.[66] According to Trivago’s data made public during the court case, the company presented a higher-priced room as a “highlighted choice” more than two-thirds of the time, even when a lower price was available.[64]

South Carolina sales tax lawsuit

[edit]

In January 2011, Travelscape, a subsidiary of Expedia Inc. based in the Las Vegas Valley, was ordered to pay $6.3 million in back sales taxes to South Carolina by the South Carolina Supreme Court. Travelscape argued that South Carolina's efforts to tax online retailers located out-of-state violate the Dormant Commerce Clause. In a unanimous ruling, the court determined that, while Travelscape does not have physical facilities in South Carolina, frequent sales trips made by its employees and the fact that the company furnished hotel rooms in the state establish its presence for tax purposes and is sufficient to be required to pay sales tax.[67]

Notes

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  1. ^ Classic Custom Vacations was acquired from Global Vacation Group.
  2. ^ Not to be confused with a separate 2021 lawsuit where Allianz Australia Limited Ltd and AWP Australia Pty Ltd were fined $1.04 million USD for misleading consumers using Expedia's websites. Expedia Group was never accused of wrongdoing in this lawsuit.
    "21-234MR Allianz Australia Insurance and AWP Australia ordered to pay penalties of $1.5 million for misleading sale of travel insurance on Expedia websites" (media release). Retrieved February 2, 2026.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Expedia Group, Inc. 2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 7, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Staff, KOMO News (October 7, 2019). "New Expedia Seattle HQ welcomes first new employees". KOMO. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  3. ^ a b Staff, KOMO News (February 28, 2024). "Expedia announces layoff of 208 Seattle employees in a pivotal workforce reduction move". KOMO. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  4. ^ Stein, Tom (September 24, 1999). "Microsoft to Spin Off Expedia". SFGate.
  5. ^ "USA Networks to buy control of Expedia". CNN. July 16, 2001.
  6. ^ Hansell, Saul (March 20, 2003). "Big Holder Buying Rest Of Expedia In Stock Deal". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "IAC completes spinoff of Expedia travel group". Northstar Travel Group. August 10, 2005.
  8. ^ "Expedia, Inc. Completes Spin-off of TripAdvisor, Inc" (Press release). PR Newswire. December 20, 2011.
  9. ^ Long, Katherine Anne (October 2, 2019). "Expedia campus opens next week to first employees — the Wi-Fi rocks await". The Seattle Times.
  10. ^ Rosoff, Matt (February 25, 2020). "Expedia cutting 3,000 jobs following 'disappointing' year". CNBC.
  11. ^ Chang, Rachel (July 18, 2023). "You Can Win $60K to Spend on Travel Thanks to Expedia's New Rewards Program — Here's How". Travel + Leisure.
  12. ^ Diller, Nathan (July 17, 2023). "The easiest reward program? What to know about Expedia Group's new One Key loyalty program". USA Today.
  13. ^ Branett, Kendra (September 16, 2024). "YExpedia offers influencers a new way to monetize recommendations with Travel Shops".
  14. ^ Wong, Kathleen; Diller, Nathan (June 13, 2024). "Which AI trip planning tool is the best? Here's how Expedia's and Booking.com's compared". USA Today.
  15. ^ "Expedia acquires Las Vegas company Travelscape.com for $95 million". Las Vegas Sun. January 31, 2000.
  16. ^ Clark, Don (February 1, 2000). "Expedia Sets Plans to Acquire Two Online Lodging Firms". The Wall Street Journal.
  17. ^ "Expedia.Com Expedia, Inc. Completes Acquisition Of Classic Custom Vacations" (Press release). Expedia. March 12, 2002.
  18. ^ "Expedia agrees to acquire Metropolitan Travel". American City Business Journals. July 10, 2002.
  19. ^ "Expedia to acquire Newtrade to enhance merchant hotel product". Northstar Travel Group. October 14, 2002.
  20. ^ "Expedia agrees to buy Hawaiian tour seller". American City Business Journals. March 30, 2004.
  21. ^ Cullen, Drew (March 29, 2004). "Expedia buys Egencia". The Register.
  22. ^ Andrews, Robert (July 15, 2008). "Expedia Buying European Hotels Site Venere". CBS News.
  23. ^ Rao, Leena (November 18, 2010). "Expedia Acquires FlightTrack App Developer Mobiata". TechCrunch.
  24. ^ Savitz, Eric (July 21, 2011). "Expedia's Egencia Unit Buys Your Unlimited Adventures". Forbes.
  25. ^ Savitz, Eric (March 27, 2012). "Expedia's Egencia Unit Buys Norway-based VIA Travel". Forbes.
  26. ^ Taylor, Colleen (December 21, 2012). "Expedia Buys Majority Stake In European Hotel Search Site Trivago For $632 Million". TechCrunch.
  27. ^ Chapman, Lizette (December 21, 2012). "Expedia Acquires Majority of Trivago in Win for Insight Ventures". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660.
  28. ^ Jacobs, Karen (December 21, 2012). "Expedia to acquire stake in German hotel site". Reuters.
  29. ^ "Expedia acquired Go Adventure Pro by Felimo Travels company in Mexico". CBS News. Associated Press. May 17, 2013.
  30. ^ "Expedia Agrees to Buy Wotif for $658M". CBS News. Associated Press. July 7, 2014.
  31. ^ "Expedia acquired The Ocean Adventures travel company in Mexico". CBS News. Associated Press. October 10, 2014.
  32. ^ "Expedia acquired Arround the World Vacation Rentals company in Mexico". CBS News. Associated Press. January 14, 2015.
  33. ^ "Expedia Buys Travelocity for 280 Million in Cash". The New York Times. January 23, 2015.
  34. ^ Dastin, Jeffrey (January 23, 2015). "Expedia Inc acquires Travelocity in $280 million deal". Reuters.
  35. ^ "Expedia begins integration of Orbitz after deal closes". Reuters. September 17, 2015.
  36. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (February 12, 2015). "Expedia Buys Orbitz For $1.6B In Cash To Square Up To Priceline". TechCrunch.
  37. ^ "Expedia acquired Mizuho Finances Corp company in Mexico". CBS News. Associated Press. September 28, 2015.
  38. ^ Lardinois, Frederic (November 4, 2015). "Expedia Acquires Airbnb Rival HomeAway For $3.9B". TechCrunch.
  39. ^ "Expedia to Buy HomeAway for $3.9 Billion". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 4, 2015.
  40. ^ Al-Muslim, Aisha (October 25, 2018). "Expedia Buys Pillow and ApartmentJet, Moves More Into Airbnb's Turf". The Wall Street Journal.
  41. ^ Levy, Nat (October 25, 2018). "Expedia acquires 2 startups that make it easier to list apartments on HomeAway". GeekWire.
  42. ^ Menze, Jill (August 22, 2019). "Expedia Group fully acquires CanadaStays to boost vacation rental presence up north". Phocuswire.
  43. ^ "eviivo Expands Into North America With Purchase of Expedia Group's RezOvation and Webervations Travel Management Software Services" (Press release). PR Newswire. October 4, 2018.
  44. ^ Clausing, Jeri (March 1, 2021). "Expedia Group is selling vacation-packager Classic Vacations". Northstar Travel Group.
  45. ^ "American Express Global Business Travel completes acquisition of Egencia from Expedia Group". egencia.com. November 3, 2021.
  46. ^ "American Express Global Business Travel completes acquisition of Egencia from Expedia Group". Egencia. egencia.com. November 2, 2021.
  47. ^ a b Korstrom, Glen (December 2, 2015), Expedia triples Vancouver office space, plans rapid expansion, Business Intelligence for BC
  48. ^ a b Local entrepreneur opens Expedia Cruises in West Caldwell, ROI NJ, September 10, 2024, retrieved July 6, 2025
  49. ^ a b Jainchill, Johanna (July 20, 2021), Expedia Cruises steaming along, Travel Weekly, retrieved July 6, 2025
  50. ^ a b "Expedia buys into cruise company". Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  51. ^ Bretting, Sandra (April 18, 2014), "Running a cruise-centered travel agency floats his boat", Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, retrieved July 6, 2025
  52. ^ Hogan, Jan (January 22, 2016), Vegas-based Expedia CruiseShipCenters play travel 'matchmaker', Las Vegas Review-Journal, retrieved July 6, 2025
  53. ^ Expedia Travel Agency Division Opens San Diego Location, San Diego Business Journal, February 17, 2025, retrieved July 6, 2025
  54. ^ Shea, Thomas B. (March 6, 2018), Expedia CruiseShipCenters expands in Texas to capitalize on strong cruise business, Chron.com, retrieved July 6, 2025
  55. ^ Expedia CruiseShipCenters Signs 300th Franchise Agreement, Cruise Industry News, September 23, 2019, retrieved July 6, 2025
  56. ^ Expedia Cruises Hosts Record-Breaking Meeting at Sea, Cruise Industry News, May 10, 2025, retrieved July 6, 2025
  57. ^ Ulrich, Todd (February 5, 2021). "Consumers grow frustrated with Expedia over COVID-19 refunds". WFTV.
  58. ^ "Traveler sues Expedia for refusing refunds on canceled flights during COVID-19 pandemic". USA Today. September 9, 2020.
  59. ^ RENDA, MATTHEW (August 19, 2016). "Hotels Accuse Expedia, Orbitz of Brazen Deceit". Courthouse News Service.
  60. ^ "UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. February 12, 2020.
  61. ^ "Database of all business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (A/HRC/43/71)". ReliefWeb. February 14, 2020.
  62. ^ "Buckeye Tree Lodge and Sequoia Village Inn, LLC v. Expedia, Inc. et al". Justia. August 17, 2016.
  63. ^ "Australia fines Expedia Group's Trivago $33 mln on misleading hotel room rates". Reuters. April 22, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  64. ^ a b c Commission, Australian Competition and Consumer (April 22, 2022). "Trivago to pay $44.7 million in penalties for misleading consumers over hotel room rates" (Text). Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  65. ^ "Australia fines Expedia Group's Trivago $33 mln on misleading hotel room rates". Reuters. April 22, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  66. ^ Fowler, Michael (September 9, 2019). "Hotels? Trivago's best deals were with best advertisers, ACCC claims". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  67. ^ "Travelscape ordered to pay South Carolina". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 21, 2011.
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