Booking Holdings Inc. - BKNG STOCK NEWS

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) has finalized its acquisition of Getaroom from Court Square Capital Partners for roughly $1.2 billion. Getaroom, a B2B distributor of hotel rooms, will integrate into Booking's Priceline brand, establishing a new Strategic Partnerships unit. CEO Brett Keller emphasized the merger's potential to enhance value for hotel and affiliate partners. Getaroom will maintain its headquarters in Dallas, led by its current CEO Matt Davis.

Priceline's annual travel recap reveals a busy 2021 for American travelers, with significant discounts in major cities—up to 27% less in hotel costs. Las Vegas remains a top destination, with Myrtle Beach identified as the most affordable flight destination at $261. Looking towards 2022, hotel costs are forecasted to rise by 18% and flight prices by 32%. Priceline emphasizes its commitment to providing affordable travel options, introducing a VIP Loyalty Program to assist customers amid rising travel costs. The ongoing 'Season of Savings' event offers further discounts until January 2, 2022.

OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings (BKNG), launches its 'Tis the Season of Experiences campaign, catering to consumer desires for shared experiences over gifts this holiday season. According to a survey, 50% of Americans prefer experiences, with nearly 31% seeking unique ways to celebrate. The campaign highlights exclusive culinary events at top restaurants nationwide, such as Hearth in New York and Republique in Los Angeles. OpenTable aims to enhance holiday dining experiences through themed tasting dinners, holiday teas, and festive events, promoting local dining and hospitality innovation.

Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) announced that its Chief Financial Officer, David Goulden, will present at Nasdaq's 45th Investor Conference on December 2 at 12:00 PM ET. A live audio stream will be available at ir.bookingholdings.com for public access, with a replay for 14 days. Additionally, CEO Glenn Fogel and Goulden will discuss at the UBS Global TMT Virtual Conference on December 6 at 11:00 AM ET, also with a live audio stream and replay available.

Agoda, a subsidiary of Booking Holdings (BKNG), has partnered with Maldives Border Miles (MBM) to enhance tourism through a new loyalty program. The MoU signed on November 22, 2021, aims to drive traffic and bookings to the Maldives by leveraging Agoda's extensive global network and marketing expertise.

The MBM program, unique in the world, allows travelers to accumulate reward points based on bookings and activities. With over 50,000 sign-ups in less than a year, the program is poised for growth. The Maldives has seen a 400% increase in inbound searches, indicating a strong recovery in tourism.

Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) has announced an agreement to acquire global flight booking provider Etraveli Group for approximately €1.63 billion. The acquisition, expected to enhance Booking's flight offerings, is subject to regulatory approval. Etraveli has been a partner of Booking.com and will continue to operate independently under its current management, headquartered in Sweden. The deal aims to create a seamless travel booking experience as international air travel recovers post-pandemic.

Priceline is launching its largest Black Friday Sales Event, starting on November 22, offering over $7 million in savings on hotels, flights, and more. The event includes 10% off sitewide Express Deals from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, along with mystery coupons for 99% off for VIPs. Discounts include up to 30% off hotels and 15% off flights. Travelers can also expect savings on rental cars and vacation packages. Following this, the Seasons of Savings event begins on November 30.

KAYAK expands its hotel portfolio with two new properties in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, enhancing its ability to test and develop accommodation technology. The KAYAK Luna and KAYAK Sol hotels are now available for reservations, featuring amenities like rooftop pools and direct communication through the KAYAK app. Both properties will be managed by Life House. KAYAK's first hotel in Miami Beach has already surpassed revenue benchmarks since its opening in April 2021.

Barclays and Priceline launched the Priceline VIP Rewards™ Visa® Card on November 16, 2021, offering cardmembers automatic Priceline VIP Gold Status and points on purchases with no annual fee. Cardholders earn 5X points on Priceline bookings, 2X points on gas and restaurant purchases, and 1X point on others. New members receive 10,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. The card provides various travel benefits, including discounts and no foreign transaction fees, enhancing travel rewards for cardholders.