Expedia Group has been undergoing a significant overhaul in recent years, with new CEO Ariane Gorin continuing the trend of streamlining operations by closing a number of brands, including ebookers UK. The decision to retire ebookers UK on September 4 was made in an effort to provide a better user experience for travelers by directing them to Expedia’s website instead. This move is part of a larger strategy to simplify Expedia Group’s operations, which began under former CEO Peter Kern and has included the closure or sale of several other brands.
Widely known in the UK, ebookers traces its roots back to 1998 and has been a near-full-service travel site. However, with little to no marketing resources being allocated to ebookers UK in recent years and significantly lower website traffic compared to Expedia UK, the decision was made to shut down the website. Expedia Group has been focusing on consolidating its operations and will be expanding its One Key loyalty program into Europe soon, combining the loyalty programs of Expedia, Hotels.com, Orbitz, and Vrbo.
As part of the closure of ebookers UK, customers will still be able to travel on existing reservations without any disruptions. They will have the option to change or cancel their reservations on their ebookers UK Trips pages or by contacting customer service after September 4. Additionally, customers will be able to earn Bonus + awards until September 4, with plans to transfer these rewards to their One Key accounts on Expedia, Hotels.com, or Vrbo at full value after that date. Customers without existing accounts on these platforms will be given an Expedia account instead.
The closure of ebookers UK is just one of the many changes Expedia Group has been implementing to streamline its operations, with a focus on improving the overall customer experience. Expedia Group inherited ebookers in 2015 through the acquisition of Orbitz Worldwide for $1.6 billion. As part of the company’s ongoing efforts to simplify and consolidate its brand portfolio, more changes are expected in the future as Expedia Group expands its One Key loyalty program to Europe and evaluates its operations in different countries.
Expedia Group has been shedding brands and re-evaluating its operations under new leadership, with a focus on driving efficiency and improving customer experience. The closure of ebookers UK is just one of the many changes that have been made in recent years, following the shutdown or sale of several other brands. The decision to retire ebookers UK comes as Expedia Group prepares to expand its One Key loyalty program into Europe, combining the loyalty programs of several of its brands to provide a more integrated experience for customers.
Customers of ebookers UK will still be able to access their existing reservations and earn Bonus + awards until September 4, with plans to transfer these rewards to their One Key accounts on Expedia, Hotels.com, or Vrbo after that date. Expedia Group has been focusing on simplifying its operations and consolidating its brand portfolio to provide a more seamless experience for travelers. With more changes and expansions on the horizon, it is clear that Expedia Group is committed to evolving and adapting to meet the needs of its customers.
