Expedia Group B2B unveils AI trip planning and APIs that turn guest intent into measurable revenue
If you run hotels, venues, or events, the gap between inspiration and booking is where revenue leaks. Expedia Group's latest B2B announcements focus on closing that gap with AI trip planning, smarter merchandising, and monetizable media-built to drive speed, scale, and personalization for partners.
With more than 350 AI models embedded across its marketplace, the company is pushing practical tools you can use: faster discovery, sharper offers, and new ad inventory you can activate on your own channels.
What's new
- Smart Trip AI™: A conversational planner that surfaces real-time hotel and activity recommendations, layered with your loyalty program and inventory rules. Less friction for guests, better attachment for you.
- Merchandising API (beta, rolling out in 2026): Machine learning helps run timely, high-performing campaigns-critical as 58% of travelers say they're more price-conscious this year.
- Typeahead API: Intelligent suggestions as users type in the search bar, guiding them from inspiration to a bookable destination or property. Tripbtoz saw a 20% lift in search-to-book after integrating it.
- Lodging Sponsored Listings API (beta): Serve Expedia Group sponsored properties on your site or app to monetize traffic while offering relevant options to travelers.
"As the leader in B2B travel, our goal is to be the one stop shop for our partners by giving them the smartest, most reliable and scalable tools in the industry… We help partners grow with confidence, deliver exceptional experiences and stay competitive in a fast-changing travel landscape." - Alfonso Paredes, president, Expedia Group B2B
Why this matters for hospitality and events
- Fill more rooms and event blocks: AI-assisted planning moves guests from inspiration to concrete dates and locations faster, improving conversion across transient and group.
- Package more value: Pair rooms with activities and local experiences to lift attachment and average order value, without adding steps for the guest.
- Price-story fit: With budget sensitivity up, the Merchandising API helps spotlight the right deal at the right moment-fewer blank stares at the rate calendar.
- Monetize your audience: Sponsored Listings let you earn on high-intent traffic while still guiding travelers to relevant stays.
- Reduce search friction: Typeahead keeps guests on-site and focused, which lowers bounce and increases booking intent.
"Through this new suite of tools, we're enabling seamless, personalized experiences that turn inspiration into action and traffic into value." - Karen Bolda, chief product and technology officer, B2B
Quick wins to execute now
- Prep your data: Map loyalty tiers, preferred rates, and blackout rules to feed Smart Trip AI™ clean inputs.
- Curate deal inventory: Build a calendar of compelling, limited-time offers tied to compression periods and need dates for the Merchandising API.
- Optimize search UX: Implement Typeahead on key routes (homepage, destination pages, group inquiry forms) and track CTR and dwell time.
- Plan sponsored strategy: Decide when to monetize vs. promote your own inventory. Define guardrails so ads complement, not cannibalize.
- Instrument measurement: Set benchmarks for search-to-book, attach rate, AOV, and ROAS. Review weekly for signal, monthly for shifts.
Metrics to watch
- Search-to-book conversion and bounce rate on search pages
- Attachment rate on activities and add-ons
- Average order value and length of stay
- Sponsored listings CPC/ROAS and net incremental revenue
- Time-to-plan (from first search to booking)
Proof it can move the needle: Tripbtoz, a Seoul-based OTA, recorded a 20% boost in search-to-book after adopting the Typeahead API.
Availability and notes
- Smart Trip AI™: Available to partners, built on Expedia Group's first-party data and AI stack.
- Merchandising API: In beta; broader rollout slated for 2026.
- Lodging Sponsored Listings API: In beta for B2B partners to serve sponsored supply on owned channels.
- Typeahead API: Available; proven lift in conversion and session quality.
Expedia Group reports 350+ AI models across its marketplace informing recommendations, pricing context, and personalization. With many travelers signaling higher price sensitivity, timely offers and clear value propositions are your edge.
Next steps
- Request access to the relevant APIs through your Expedia Group account team or partner portal. Learn more.
- Align revenue, marketing, and ops on a shared testing plan: which markets, which dates, which KPIs, and what "good" looks like.
- Upskill your team on AI-assisted merchandising and prompt-driven planning tools to maintain speed as features expand. For role-based learning, see AI courses by job.
Bottom line
This suite converts intent into bookings with less friction and more relevance. If you control rooms, venues, or packages, now is the time to plug in, measure impact, and scale the plays that move occupancy, group pick-up, and ancillary revenue.
About Expedia Group
Expedia Group brands include Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. Its B2B arm, Private Label Solutions, provides technology that helps partners grow while delivering memorable traveler experiences. Expedia Group Advertising connects partners with travelers on-site, offsite, and across its B2B network.
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