According to CNBC, Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin said Thursday that AI agents have not changed how customers book travel, although early signs point to potential changes for the industry. Expedia is working with AI agents to appear in their results and understand how they gather information. Gorin said the complexity of travel services, including customer support, could be difficult for AI agents to replace.
Expedia shares fell about 12% Thursday after the company issued weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter guidance on Wednesday. The company forecast revenue of $3.69 billion to $3.75 billion for the final three months of the year, putting the midpoint below analysts’ estimate of $3.74 billion, according to FactSet. Gorin attributed the guidance moderation to geopolitical events in the Middle East and Europe, the midterm elections and the company moving its fall sale from the fourth quarter to the third quarter. Expedia’s third-quarter total gross bookings rose 11%, while revenue increased 12%.