Expedia

Brand: Expedia (flagship online travel agency)
Founded: 1996 (division of Microsoft; independent by 1999)
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA
Type: Public (owns multiple travel brands)
Categories: Online travel agency (flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages)
Markets: Global (sites in 70+ countries)
Parent: Independent

Overview: Expedia Group is one of the world’s largest online travel companies. It was launched by Microsoft in 1996, spun off in 1999, and grew through acquisitions. Its main consumer brand, Expedia.com, lets travelers book hotels, flights, cruises, rental cars and more in one place. Expedia itself does not own rental cars; instead, it partners with global car rental companies (and uses its subsidiary CarRentals.com) to list available vehicles. Through its many brands (Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, Hotels.com, Vrbo, etc.), Expedia processes millions of bookings annually and serves customers in dozens of markets. The company earns revenue by charging commissions or service fees on bookings. Expedia has emphasized technology and integrated apps to unify its offerings. It remains a major player in travel booking, influencing how consumers compare car rental options online.

Products and Services:
– Travel search and booking for flights, hotels, cruises, packages, car rentals (via partner channels).
– Vacation rentals (Vrbo) and activities.
– Corporate travel services (via B2B division; previously Egencia, sold in 2021).
– Marketing and loyalty programs (Expedia Rewards; Expedia Group Media Solutions).

Geography and Markets: Expedia operates in over 70 countries and through 200+ travel booking websites. Its users come from around the world, searching for deals on all travel segments. In car rentals, Expedia’s sites show options from all major brands and broker partners, giving travelers many choices on one platform.

Ownership and Corporate Structure: Expedia Group is publicly traded (NASDAQ: EXPE). It is run by its own executive leadership and board. Over the years, it acquired or created many brands (Orbitz 2015, Travelocity, Hotwire, Wotif, etc.) to broaden its portfolio. The company remains independent (not owned by a parent company other than its public shareholders).

Key Dates:
– 1996: Expedia is founded within Microsoft.
– 1999: Expedia is spun off as a public company.
– 2003–2015: Acquire and launch brands like Hotels.com, Wotif (Australia), Trivago, Orbitz.
– 2021: Sells Egencia (corporate travel arm) to American Express Global Business Travel.
– 2025: Expedia Group announces agreement to acquire Tiqets (Amsterdam-based activities platform) to broaden offerings. (Deal expected to close in Q1 2026.)

(Sources: Company financial reports, SEC filings, official press releases, and reputable news outlets were used.)