Hilton has deployed an AI Planner, built with Anthropic, that recommends destinations and builds full trip itineraries after conversing with guests; PYMNTS reports it has handled more than 18,000 conversations as of August, with Orlando, Aspen and the Caribbean among top searches. The tool is part of Hilton's push to keep bookings direct rather than through sites like Booking.com, Expedia or Uber, and the company is also appearing in Google's AI Mode and ChatGPT.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-10-12
Booking Holdings introduced Lola, an AI assistant that books hotels, restaurants, events and entire trips using real-time availability and pricing across partners including OpenTable, KAYAK, Priceline, Agoda and FareHarbor. The app is free to use, but a Plus tier ($5/month) and VIP tier ($25/month), each requiring a 12-month commitment, unlock discounts, priority access and concierge perks.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-29
Google confirmed it is rolling out major changes to how Search functions across the European Union, following a $1 billion fine tied to alleged Digital Markets Act violations. The update forces Google to display results from competing vertical search services, such as Expedia or Booking.com, ahead of its own Flights and Hotels products in categories like travel and dining. New carousels will rank listings using Google's algorithm, but with details like real-time pricing removed.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-08
Consumer group Which? created a fake Booking.com listing for 10 Downing Street, complete with a bogus review mentioning Larry the cat, to test the platform's fraud detection. The listing remained live for two months before Booking.com removed it, despite obvious signs it was fraudulent.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-09-02
Apple has rolled out several updates to Apple Card ahead of its seventh anniversary, including a new 'Recurring' transactions view coming with iOS 27's Wallet app. The company also partnered with Booking.com to grant Apple Card holders automatic Genius Level 2 status plus 3% Daily Cash, building on an earlier Hertz partnership offering discounts, free roadside assistance and extra drivers for car rentals.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-08-29
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