Uber Adds Expedia Hotels as It Tries to Own More of the Trip

Uber announced that it is adding hotel bookings to its app through a new partnership with Expedia Group.

The feature is launching for users in the US and gives them access to Expedia’s hotel inventory directly inside Uber.

The move takes Uber deeper into travel. The company is already part of many trips through airport rides, local transport, and food delivery. Now it wants to reach travelers earlier, when they are choosing where to stay. Expedia benefits as well, because its hotel supply will appear inside one of the world’s most-used mobility apps.

Uber wants to own more of the Trip

Uber says the hotel selection will eventually grow to more than 700,000 properties worldwide. Vrbo vacation rentals, also owned by Expedia Group, will be added later this year.

Uber one gets more travel benefits

Uber is also using the launch to make Uber One more attractive. Members can earn 10 percent back in Uber One credits on hotel bookings. They can also get at least 20 percent off a rotating list of more than 10,000 hotels worldwide.

This turns Uber One into a more travel-focused subscription. The membership is no longer only about rides and delivery. It now gives users a reason to book more parts of a trip through Uber, especially if they already use the app for airport transfers and meals.

Expedia gets a new distribution channel

For Expedia, instead of relying only on travelers who visit Expedia’s own websites and apps, the company can now reach Uber users at moments when they may already be thinking about a trip.

Uber also avoids building a hotel marketplace from scratch. Expedia already has lodging inventory, booking technology, and travel platform experience. The companies said the partnership uses Expedia Group’s Rapid API technology to bring lodging options into Uber.

Travel Mode Makes Uber More Useful After Arrival

Uber also introduced Travel Mode, a feature that gives travelers local recommendations inside Uber and Uber Eats. It can suggest local places, tourist attractions, restaurant reservations through OpenTable, and food delivery to hotel rooms.

This move also follows Uber’s broader push into travel services. Uber agreed to acquire Blacklane, a Berlin-based chauffeur platform focused on pre-booked premium rides, airport transfers, and business travel. That deal showed Uber’s interest in higher-end mobility and corporate travelers.

Photo by Alexa Jimenez on Unsplash