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Traveler Insights Report

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In our last Travel Recovery Trend Report, covering the second quarter of 2021, we highlighted several positive signs for the industry. As we moved into Q3, however, concerns around the Delta variant and renewed restrictions led many travelers to reevaluate. Still, the industry saw positive progress in many areas. This latest installment tracks this momentum using our first-party Expedia Group traveler data and custom research, presented at both a global and regional level. Travel marketers can use these latest insights to inspire travelers and continue their road to recovery.

Travelers Look to the Future

As we look at our first-party Expedia Group data from Q3 2022, we see travelers sustain their enthusiasm for travel as they plan for the rest of the year and 2023, despite rising inflation and political challenges. In this latest quarterly report, travel marketers can learn about how traveler behavior is evolving and how they can best engage and connect with travelers today.

Download the report to see the biggest trends this quarter, including:

• Consumers place a newfound importance on travel
• Travelers began planning further out, searching earlier for holiday travel and 2023 travel than prior years
• Several Asia Pacific cities saw major search increases as restrictions in the region eased
• Business travel is making gains, and travelers are excited for future trips

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The Biggest Travel Trends of 2024, According to Expedia Group's President

Can you guess the one major travel trend from 2023 that's sticking around?

Courtesy of Expedia

With the new year just around the corner, travel planning for 2024 is in full swing. Online travel booking behemoth Expedia recently unveiled its 2024 travel trends report , combining a vast trove of first-party data with a global consumer survey of 20,000 travelers. Think of it as a peek into what will define the travel landscape in the year ahead. 

“What’s happening in culture often shapes consumer behavior, and we’ve definitely seen that in travel,” said Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands, in an interview with Travel + Leisure . There’s a wide array of intriguing intel, from how travelers are looking for recommendations (hello, ChatGPT) to the destination “dupes” jet-setters are choosing so they can avoid overcrowded destinations.

Generative AI

While generative AI tools like ChatGPT took the spotlight in 2023, according to Gieselman, only a small fraction of travelers — 6 percent in total — used it to plan their trips. However, in 2024, Expedia predicts more widespread adoption; half of those surveyed are interested in using generative AI to plan their next getaway. 

The technology’s ability to simplify the planning and booking process — though often with unintended side effects — is driving its use. Nearly 40 percent of travelers say they would use generative AI to help find the perfect stay. 

Destination “Dupes” and "Set-jetting"

AI may (or may not) prove helpful for trip planning, but how will travelers narrow down where to go? The Expedia-commissioned study explored the “dupe” trend that has taken over TikTok by applying it to 2024 travel destinations. “These cities made the list because they all experienced a noticeable uptick in searches on the Expedia app over the past year, so it’s clear that they’re emerging as great alternatives,” Gieselman says. 

In many cases, these “dupes” are affordable alternatives to places that are historically more expensive. At the top of the list was Taipei, Taiwan , with a 2,786 percent increase in flight searches for 2024; Expedia says the city is a dupe for Seoul. Other notable dupes include Pattaya, Thailand (dupe for Bangkok); Paros, Greece (dupe for Santorini); Curacao in the Caribbean (dupe for St. Martin); and Perth, Australia (dupe for Sydney). 

There’s one 2024 trend that’s a sure bet — and a holdover from 2023. “Set-jetting” will continue to be in vogue for the new year. More than half of the travelers surveyed say they’ve researched or booked a trip to a destination after seeing it in a television show or movie. 

Giselman and company dug closer into specific programming that is influencing this trend. For instance, following the release of Wednesday on Netflix, Expedia saw a 150 percent increase in travel searches for Romania. There was a 200 percent increase in searches to Paris after Emily in Paris debuted its most recent season. 

A longtime favorite, White Lotus, is filming its third season in Thailand and Expedia expects a surge in travel to the Southeast Asian country. After all, the first two seasons of the series drove a 300 percent increase in demand to Hawaii and Sicily.

Sober Travel and More

Once on the ground, Expedia expects travelers to fully embrace “dry tripping,” going beyond the traditional Dry January or Sober October to have low- or no-alcohol getaways year-round. The travel industry has responded accordingly, stocking minibars with zero-proof options and offering mocktail-making experiences. 

Giselman says that it’s Gen Z travelers who are driving the dry tripping trend. “Sober-curious lifestyles are becoming more commonplace, and many Gen Zers are practicing alcohol-free lifestyles," he notes.

Wynn Las Vegas , a T+L reader favorite in Sin City , offers a “Drinking Well” zero-proof cocktail program developed by a master mixologist featuring reishi mushrooms, ashwagandha, and maca. Meanwhile, The Merrion , a T+L reader favorite hotel in Dublin , distills its own nonalcoholic gin. Expedia says more than 40 percent of travelers are likely to book a detox trip in the next year, with half of respondents saying they would be interested in staying at hotels that offer easily accessible alcohol-free beverage options.

The complete travel trends report, with several other key tenets , comes on the heels of Expedia Group’s recent launch of One Key , a single unifying travel rewards program across Expedia , Hotels.com , and Vrbo . 

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TRAVEL TRENDS ANALYSIS

Unpack ’24: The Trends in Travel

We've identified the travel trends for 2024. Get ahead of the curve by diving into the insights to learn how you can deliver exceptional traveler experiences.

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Inside the data

Our proprietary Unpack ’24 research draws on first-party data from Expedia ® , Hotels.com ® , and Vrbo ® , as well as a OnePoll* global consumer survey.

70PB of first-party data

20k survey respondents*, 14 countries*, inside the research.

Travelers don’t want the same old thing anymore when they travel. Their tastes, needs, and desires have evolved in some very unique directions. Unpack ’24 gives you important insights into their shifting appetites so you can deliver exactly what they’re looking for — making this the must-have travel trends research for 2024.

Destination Dupes and Tour Tourism

Expedia insights tell us travelers are looking for lesser-known alternatives to popular vacation spots, and that popular music tours will drive increased tourism globally. Learn why travelers are choosing "destination dupes" and “tour tourism.”

Vibe Check-in and Dry Tripping

From Hotels.com data, we know the energy and atmosphere of a hotel speak volumes to today’s traveler, and the importance of alcohol-free options is rising. Find out what vibes travelers are most interested in and what sober-conscious travelers are looking for.

Go-ccasions and Outside In

Our latest Vrbo trends show travelers are looking for any excuse to get away in 2024, and the importance of outdoor amenities when choosing a vacation rental is rising. Explore how to inspire travelers to take a trip and the top outdoor amenities you need to attract guests.

2024 TRAVEL FORECAST

Get into the hearts and minds of travelers.

Unpack ’24 has all the travel industry insights you need to connect with more travelers in 2024.

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The Path to Purchase: Uncovering How Travelers Plan and Book Online

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Explore tech, insights, and expert perspectives in travel

The latest from Expedia Group to inform your strategies and power your business.

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Hear from experts across the industry on the Powering Travel podcast. Join us for a deep dive into top travel topics.

*Expedia Group, Unpack ’24, November 2023

Expedia Group, Inc.

Statistics report on Expedia Group, Inc.

This report presents a range of statistics and facts on the online travel company Expedia Group. It includes figures on the online travel market, key financial data on the Expedia Group, and a focus on the company's profile among consumers in the United States.

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Table of contents, industry overview.

• Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Company information

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2019-2023, by segment
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. in the U.S. 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic Gross bookings of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2005-2023
• Premium Statistic Selling and marketing expenses of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2009-2023
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Total assets of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of Expedia Group, Inc. employees worldwide 2007-2023

U.S. consumers

• Premium Statistic ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with online travel websites as of 2024
• Basic Statistic American Customer Satisfaction Index for internet travel companies U.S. 2002-2024
• Basic Statistic ACSI - U.S. customer satisfaction with Expedia Inc. as of 2024
• Basic Statistic Most well-known travel portals in the United States 2023
• Premium Forecast Expedia brand profile in the United States 2023
• Premium Forecast Flight search engine online bookings by brand in the U.S. 2024
• Premium Forecast Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in the U.S. 2024
• Premium Forecast Package holiday bookings by brand in the U.S. 2024

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• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Spending on Google of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide 2019-2024
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Preferred online travel agencies in Japan 2023

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Expedia Revenue and Usage Statistics (2024)

Updated: March 1, 2024

Expedia was one of the many .com travel websites launched in the mid-1990s, the brainchild of internet entrepreneur Rich Barton, who would go on to found Zillow and Glassdoor.

Barton was working for Microsoft at the time and incubated the project inside the tech giant, launching in 1996. Three years later, Expedia was spun off by Microsoft into a public company, with Barton as the CEO.

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IAC bundled Expedia with TripAdvisor in 2005 and pushed it back onto the public market. For a time, Expedia quietly plodded along, with TripAdvisor being spun out into its own company in 2011.

A flurry of acquisitions between 2013 and 2015 built the Expedia Group of today, these included trivago, Wotif, Travelocity, Orbitz and HomeAway. In two years, Expedia had spent over $6 billion to get back on the front foot.

Unlike Booking, its main competitor, Expedia has not been able to break through into markets outside North America. It still generates a majority of its revenue from the United States, with Vrbo also popular in the country.

We have collected data and statistics on Expedia. Read on below to find out more.

Expedia Key Statistics

• Expedia generated $12.8 billion annual revenue in 2023, a 10% increase on the previous year
• The Expedia brand was responsible for 42% of Expedia Group revenues
• Expedia had a net income of $797 million in 2023, a second year of annual income
• Expedia was responsible for $104 billion in bookings in 2023
• 48 million people used Expedia in 2022

Travel App Report 2024

Want to learn more about the travel app industry? In our Travel App report , we cover financials, usage, downloads, and demographics by age and gender, alongside market share, and benchmarks.

Expedia Overview

Expedia revenue.

Expedia generated $12.8 billion annual revenue in 2023, a 10% increase on the previous year.

Expedia quarterly revenue 2010 to 2023 ($mm)

Expedia annual revenue 2010 to 2023 ($bn).

Source: Company data

Expedia Revenue by Segment

The Expedia app and website was responsible for 42% of the revenue, while Vrbo made 24%.

Expedia annual revenue by segment 2023 (%)

Source: Travel App Report

Expedia Net Income

Expedia made $797 million net income in 2023, a 126% increase on the previous year.

Expedia annual net income 2009 to 2023 ($mm)

Expedia bookings.

Expedia annual bookings increased to $104 billion in 2023, an improvement on the previous year but still 3.2% behind 2019 figures.

Expedia annual bookings 2016 to 2023 ($bn)

Expedia users.

Expedia had 48 million active users in 2022, a 26.3% increase on previous year.

Expedia annual users 2016 to 2022 (mm)

Expedia downloads.

Expedia had 18 million downloads in 2022, a 91% increase on 2021 figures.

Expedia annual downloads 2016 to 2022 (mm)

Sources: Appfigures , AppMagic

Expedia Age Demographics

About a quarter of Expedia users are in the 25-34 age bracket, with 61% over the age of 35.

Expedia age demographics 2023 (%)

Sources: Expedia, SimilarWeb

Expedia vs competitors: US Market Share

Expedia faqs, how many travel sites does the expedia group operate.

According to its website, Expedia operates over 200 travel websites.

How many countries is Expedia available in?

Expedia is available in 42 countries.

When was Expedia spun out of Microsoft?

Expedia was spun out of Microsoft in 1999, three years after launch.

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Where your issues are sent, expedia report shows search growth; traveler confidence up.

May 10, 2022 • News/Media Release • Bookmark +

As travel restrictions ease, travel search volume is up 25% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 and 75% year-over-year compared to Q1 2021.

Photo: Pixabay / mohamed_hassan

Travel advertising platform Expedia Group Media Solutions released its Q1 2022 Travel Trend Report. The quarterly report combines Expedia Group first-party data and custom research with insights and industry examples to help travel marketers on their continued journey toward rebuilding.    

"As we look back on the first quarter of the year and forward to the months ahead, we’re optimistic about what 2022 has in store,” said Jennifer Andre, global vice president, media solutions. “Rising travel intent, lengthening search windows, a lift in international searches, and growing consumer interest in sustainable travel are just a few of the positive trends we saw in Q1 2022. This year is shaping up to be a year of sustained growth and we look forward to collaborating with our partners and across the industry to continue rebuilding tourism for the future.”    

Key Findings from the Travel Trend Report  

Travel searches surge as restrictions ease  .

With a new year comes new enthusiasm for travel, as evidenced by the lift in global searches. During Q1, global search volume was up 25% quarter-over-quarter, led by double-digit growth in North America (NORAM) at 30% and in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at 25%.  A prior year comparison further illustrates strong recovery, with global search volumes up 75% year-over-year compared to Q1 2021. All regions saw a year-over-year lift, with EMEA search volume up 165%, NORAM up 70%, Latin America (LATAM) up 50%, and Asia Pacific (APAC) up 30%.    

Week-over-week search volume fluctuated throughout Q1, but during the week of February 14, all regions saw week-over-week growth following changes and announcements related to vaccine and mask mandates around the world, including in the U.S. and Europe.     

Growing Traveler Confidence = Longer Search Windows    

With traveler confidence on the upswing, Q1 saw lengthening search windows. Global share of searches in the 180+ day search window increased 190%, while the 0- to 21-day search window decreased 15% quarter-over-quarter. Regionally, shorter search window share in APAC and LATAM held steady between Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, while EMEA and NORAM travelers searched further out, with the 91- to 180-day search window increasing 140% and 60%, respectively.     

In Q1, 60% of global domestic searches fell within the 0- to 30-day window, a 10% decrease compared to Q4, while the share of searches in 91- to 180-day window increased 80% quarter-over-quarter. Global international search share for the 91- to 180-day window increased 35% quarter over quarter, with the 91- to 180-day window seeing the largest gains.     

Big Cities & Beaches Maintain Appeal     

Major cities such as Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, and London remained popular with travelers and made the global top 10 list of booked destinations in Q1, along with beach destinations like Cancun, Punta Cana, Honolulu, and Miami. Las Vegas topped the global list, surpassing New York, which held the No. 1 spot in Q3 and Q4 2021. However, for the third consecutive quarter, New York appeared on the top 10 list of booked destinations across all regions.      

New intra-regional destinations also appeared on the top 10 booked destinations list in each region, including Rome in EMEA, Puerta Vallarta in LATAM, and Phoenix in NORAM. In APAC, destinations within Australia experienced strong quarter-over-quarter growth, including Sydney, Melbourne and Surfers Paradise.      

Lodging Performance on the Rise   

Global lodging bookings for hotels and vacation rentals combined were up 35% quarter-over-quarter, and all regions experienced at least double-digit growth in Q1. During Q1, 15 of the top 25 global destinations saw double-digit growth in hotel bookings quarter-over-quarter. Global lodging length of stay held steady between Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, at 2 days for hotel stays and 5.5 days for vacation rental stays.    

With both winter breaks and spring vacations occurring during Q1, vacation rentals had another positive quarter, with substantial quarter-over-quarter growth in vacation rental night counts. Domestic travel continued to dominate the vacation rental space, with Australia, France, Brazil, and the U.S. being the top booked countries for their respective regions.    

Growing Demand⁠ and Opportunity⁠ for Sustainable Tourism  

Consumers around the world are already making more mindful decisions when traveling, such as opting for more eco-conscious and sustainable offerings, and more want to do so in the future. However, many feel overwhelmed by starting the process of being a more sustainable traveler and are looking for sustainability information from trusted travel resources and providers.     

According to a recent Sustainable Travel Study , two-thirds of consumers want to see more information on sustainability from lodging and transportation providers, and half want to see this information from destination organizations. Additionally, 50% of consumers would be willing to pay more for transportation, activities, and lodging if the option was more sustainable.  

Read More:  Global Search Volume for Travel Up More Than 70%

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When to book, fly: Expedia's booking tips can help make your trip more carefree

A new survey by Expedia shows what you probably already know: Americans find air travel stressful. 

According to data released Wednesday, travel is a top stressor for 55% of respondents, with some saying the thought of booking a flight and going to the airport makes them more anxious than filing their taxes or even going to the dentist.

“People, according to the research, are really stressed about the possibility of their flights being canceled and experience those disruptions,” Christie Hudson, head of Expedia public relations in the U.S., told USA TODAY. “There’s some stress that’s happening even just from the planning process,” especially around getting the best possible deal on tickets.

With that in mind, she highlighted some of the survey’s findings and offered some of her top tips for reducing stress and getting the best deal when you travel.

What’s the best day to book your flights?

The best day to book is a constant topic of debate among travelers. According to Hudson, Expedia’s data suggests that Sunday is the likely answer.

While she acknowledged that airline prices are extremely dynamic and booking on Sunday doesn’t guarantee you the best price every time, on average it is when the cheapest fares are available.

“We’re looking at billions of data points of actual booked and flown flights,” Hudson said. 

According to Expedia’s research, booking on Sunday can save you around 6% on domestic flights and 13% on international flights compared to what you’d pay if you booked on a Friday.

How long before your trip should you book your flights?

Another key element to getting the best deal is booking with the right amount of time before your flight.

For domestic flights, the best deals are typically available around a month before departure, when fares are 24% cheaper than they are at the last minute. For international itineraries, 60 days prior to takeoff is the ideal booking window. Expedia found prices for international flights peak about four months before departure, and come down about 10% around the 60-day mark.

“We really recommend that 60-day window because that’s when you’re going to be able to save around 10% but you’re also going to be far enough out that you can get the right route and the seat you want on that airplane,” Hudson said.

She added that with those windows in mind, it’s a good time to start researching your fall and winter holiday travel.

What is the best day to fly?

Aside from the week of Thanksgiving when Wednesday is especially busy, middle-of-the-week flights tend to be the least expensive and the least crowded.

Expedia’s research found Thursdays are typically the cheapest, around 16% less expensive than Sundays, which is usually the most expensive day to depart.

“Book on a Sunday, leave on a Thursday, and make sure you lock in your plans around 28 days out,” Hudson said. “That should be your bible.” 

What is the best time to fly?

Another major stressor for travelers, Expedia found, was flight delays and cancellations.

Hudson said to reduce the chances of issues with your flight, it’s best to travel early in the day.

“The tip there is you need to take a morning flight,” Hudson said. “Around a third of travelers try to avoid morning flights because the whole getting up early and getting to the airport thing stresses them out.” But, she added, Expedia’s research showed flights are less likely to get canceled if they’re scheduled to depart before 3 p.m.

On the plus side, Hudson added, the cancellation rate is improving compared to last year, even as episodes of poor airline reliability continue to generate headlines. 

Flight canceled or delayed? Here's what you're owed.

How else can you reduce stress in air travel?

One other tip Hudson had was to take advantage of price protections when they’re available. These include things like Expedia’s Price Drop Protection and Google Flights’ price guarantee will both refund you the difference if airfare drops on eligible itineraries after you’ve purchased through the platform.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

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Expedia Group lays off 36 workers as part of broader cuts

S eattle-based travel giant Expedia Group is laying off 36 workers in Washington, according to a new filing with the state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ( WARN ) system. 

A spokesperson for Expedia confirmed the cuts and said they are part of a workforce reduction announced earlier this year.

In an internal memo sent to employees in February, Expedia said it expected about 1,500 roles to be impacted, primarily in its Product & Technology division, under an operational review. That accounts for more than 8% of its workforce.

“As we indicated earlier this year, we’ve recently completed many of our significant technical milestones and we’re prioritizing essential work and reviewing operations, potentially impacting up to 1,500 roles globally,” Expedia said in a statement to GeekWire. “The proposed impacts announced today are part of the roles that we previously announced we were evaluating in 2024. While some roles may be affected, this review allows for investment in key growth areas. Consultation with local employee representatives, where applicable, will occur before making any final decisions.”

A filing with the Washington Employment Security Department in February showed 208 employees getting laid off in the state.

In an earlier  regulatory filing , Expedia said it will incur pre-tax charges of $80 million to $100 million related to the broader layoffs.

After peaking at more than 25,000 employees in 2019, the company employed 14,800 people as of 2021, following a restructuring  just prior to the pandemic.

Expedia has made smaller cutbacks in recent years, including  an unspecified number of jobs last year  in its Traveler Products team, part of Product & Technology division. However, its total employment still rose to 17,100 at the end of 2023, with about half of those positions in tech roles,  according to Expedia’s annual 10-K filing .

Expedia Group includes brands such as vrbo, Orbitz, Hotwire, Trivago, and Hotels.com in addition to the flagship Expedia.com.

The company has combined the tech platform beneath its different brands in recent years, and launched  a unified travel loyalty program called One Key  for Expedia, Hotels.com and vrbo.

Expedia reported $2.9 billion in revenue for its first quarter, up 8% year-over-year, but shares fell after the earnings release this month after the company  said  a tech migration was going slower than expected.

Expedia’s new CEO,  Ariane Gorin , started in her new role earlier this month. Gorin, a longtime Expedia leader, replaced former CEO Peter Kern as part of a move announced in February.

Former Expedia CTO  Rathi Murthy  and  Sreenivas Rachamadugu , senior vice president, core services product and engineering, abruptly left the company earlier this month due to what the online travel giant called a “violation of company policy.”