Expedia News

Regarding this particular shareholder proposal on increased transparency about political contributions, the stockholder who mattered the most was Barry Diller. But if the political winds in the U.S. are indeed changing, then corporations may find themselves under increased pressure to be transparent and to do the right thing.

Booking Holdings may be calculating that partner memories aren't exceedingly long. On the other hand, with additional layoffs a possibility at flagship brand Booking.com, the parent company has its own problems to deal with.

Airbnb would have been eviscerated had it focused on a relief package for hosts that was primarily marketing credits. Expedia's recovery plan for partners isn't philanthropy, but although the company will likely take a revenue hit, it will benefit from increased partner engagement as the travel industry bounces back.

Expedia Group is trying to simplify its far-flung operations, and its multifamily, short-term rental business wasn't a core endeavor. That's especially true when you consider how Covid-19 has decimated demand for such properties in urban areas.

Many companies won't reopen for business when coronavirus ebbs, but two that will definitely still be left standing will be Expedia Group and Airbnb. They could potentially find ways to cooperate in the face of bigger threats in the form of Google and Booking.com.

Can Expedia Group wean itself away from Google, and avoid performance marketing spending when it doesn't hit return on investment targets? New CEO Peter Kern said the coronavirus crisis presents an opportunity to chase these goals. Kern will be judged on what progress he can make toward achieving such previously elusive ambitions.

Warren Buffett provided a no-confidence vote in the near-future of U.S. airlines, but elsewhere in travel private equity firms are betting billions of dollars that Expedia Group and Airbnb will emerge from the coronavirus crisis in relatively strong positions. Uncertainty reigns.

Barry Diller let it rip on Sunday in a wide-ranging interview on the pandemic, calling President Trump a "witch doctor" for his coronavirus treatment recommendations. Whether the subject is Trump or regulation of Google, Diller hasn't been shy about speaking his mind.

Barry Diller followed a familiar pattern and appointed someone he's known for years and feels comfortable working with as CEO. Peter Kern will have no trouble working with Apollo and Silver Lake, and with making deep cuts because he is a private equity guy at heart.

With so much change at the top, there's a risk corporate clients are nervous because the last thing they need in a crisis is more uncertainty. There could be further operational streamlining ahead. If so, Ariane Gorin will have to balance more change with reassuring clients that Expedia Group is a steady ship.