Expedia bookings increase: Expedia increased profit by nearly 8% in Q3 2015, earning US$283 million in the quarter. The value of bookings on Expedia sites was US$15.4 billion in the quarter, a 21% rise from a year ago.
Trivago launches direct bookings in Germany: Trivago has rolled out direct hotel bookings on its website and app in Germany. The Expedia-owned site also plans to expand booking capabilities into other English-speaking countries.
Thomas Cook launches new concept: Thomas Cook will launch a new hotel concept, Casa Cook, designed to offer a fusion of local elements and lifestyle amenities. The concept will launch in May 2016 with the opening of Casa Cook Rhodes in Greece.
European tourism: Long-haul travel to Europe has enjoyed an encouraging summer and the upward trend in arrivals is expected to continue, according to the latest analysis from ForwardKeys. Total international long-haul arrivals from January to September 2015 were up 5.1% on the previous year and issued bookings are up 4.8% for the remainder of 2015. However, appears to be a strong performance needs to be set in the context of long-term relative decline. While tourism in Europe is up 3.6% since 2007, the rest of world is growing at a rate of 5.7% over the same period.