Expedia Leans into a “Travel Tech” Identity with AI Initiatives

Expedia Group has been shifting away from a booking-led online travel agency narrative toward a broader travel technology platform story.

A clear marker came in May 2025, when the company announced an expansion of its B2B technology platform alongside new generative-AI initiatives, including “Expedia Trip Matching,” which turns Instagram Reels into trip recommendations.  That message was reinforced later in 2025, framing AI-led discovery and platform capabilities as central to how Expedia wants to be evaluated.

Partnering with AI environments

On its November 6, 2025, earnings call, Expedia executives said AI-driven search is reshaping trip planning and said Expedia is working to ensure its brands appear in new AI environments, citing partnerships with Google, OpenAI, and Perplexity.  

For example, Expedia was one of the first travel brands to connect its services to ChatGPT, allowing users to search for, compare, and plan trips on the platform.

Restructuring as earnings approach

The company’s most recent move is operational: in late January 2026, Expedia confirmed job cuts as part of a reorganization, while also saying it is opening new roles and simplifying its organizational structure to “move faster” and align skills with future needs.  

The next checkpoint is February 12, 2026, when Expedia is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results and hold a webcast—investors and industry watchers will be looking for specifics on B2B momentum and whether AI features are translating into measurable gains.

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash