October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsWindows FixRecommendedWindows errors stealing your time? Find the fix fastScan stability, cleanup and performance issues.Fix NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Did Uber Try to Buy Expedia? What the 2024 Report—and 2026 Partnership—Show

Uber’s reported Expedia bid idea was preliminary, not an announced takeover. The companies later disclosed a hotel-booking and ride-integration partnership.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Uber did not announce an acquisition of Expedia. In October 2024, media reports said Uber had explored a possible bid, but described the idea as preliminary; a follow-up said there were no current discussions at that time. In April 2026, the companies announced a travel-booking partnership, not a takeover.

Did Uber try to buy Expedia?

In an October 16, 2024 report, GeekWire, citing the Financial Times, said Uber had explored a potential bid for Seattle-based Expedia Group and had approached advisers in recent months. The report characterized Uber’s interest as “at a very early stage.” Expedia declined to comment, GeekWire reported. GeekWire’s report described reported exploration, not a public offer or agreement.

Axios followed up on October 17, 2024, also citing Financial Times reporting. It said the idea had first been presented to Uber by a third party, that the interest remained very preliminary, and that no current discussions were underway at that time. Those details were attributed to people familiar with the process, not confirmed by either company. Axios’s follow-up therefore does not establish that negotiations took place or that Uber made an offer.

Was Uber actually acquiring Expedia?

No acquisition was announced in the cited reporting. The sources establish no offer, signed agreement, or completed deal. The distinction matters: exploring a possible bid is not the same as making one, and a later commercial partnership does not retroactively prove that an acquisition was pursued.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Uber eGift Card
  • 24/7 safe pickups
  • Order from hundreds of local restaurants
  • Low-cost and premium options
  • Track delivery
  • Redemption: Online
Question Reported acquisition idea Later partnership
When October 2024 Announced April 29, 2026
Evidence Media reports describing preliminary exploration Company announcement describing product plans
Scope Potential purchase of Expedia; no offer or terms documented Hotel booking in Uber and planned integration of Uber rides into Expedia
Corporate control No change established No acquisition announced

Why did Uber consider buying Expedia?

The cited 2024 reports do not give a confirmed reason for the reported idea. It is reasonable to see a possible business logic in combining Uber’s transportation services with Expedia’s travel-booking business, but that is analysis, not a rationale either company confirmed. The 2026 partnership shows the companies pursuing some travel-related coordination without a takeover; it does not establish why the earlier acquisition idea was raised.

What is Uber’s relationship with Expedia now?

On April 29, 2026, Uber announced that U.S. customers could book hotels in the Uber app using Expedia Group inventory. Uber said the selection was intended eventually to exceed 700,000 properties. It also announced Uber One hotel-booking rewards and discounts: 10% back in credits on bookings for members, plus at least 20% savings on a rolling list of more than 10,000 hotels worldwide. These are terms in Uber’s announcement, not independently verified current offers; eligibility, availability, and terms may change. Uber’s announcement said the partnership was expected to expand beyond the United States, that Vrbo vacation rentals would be added later in 2026, and that Uber rides would be integrated into the Expedia app beginning in June after an initial pilot. The announcement describes plans and expected timing; it does not verify that every feature launched on schedule or remains available as described.

Rank #2
Uber eGift Card
  • 24/7 safe pickups
  • Order from hundreds of local restaurants
  • Low-cost and premium options
  • Track delivery
  • Redemption: Online

Expedia Group’s SEC filing for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 reported approximately 3.7 million lodging properties in its global marketplace: about 2.5 million alternative accommodations through Vrbo and about 1.2 million hotels and alternative accommodations through its other brands. That company-reported marketplace total is not the same as the hotel inventory offered through Uber. Expedia Group’s Form 10-Q describes Uber as a ridesharing app that had added transportation and experience offerings through partnerships with other travel providers.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What role did Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi have at Expedia?

The 2024 coverage highlighted Khosrowshahi’s former Expedia leadership. GeekWire said he served as Expedia CEO from 2005 to 2017 and remained on its board; Axios described him as an Expedia non-executive director at the time of its report. Those are historical descriptions in 2024 coverage and do not establish his current board status. His connection is context, not proof that Uber made an offer or that a deal was negotiated.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Uber eGift Card
Uber eGift Card
24/7 safe pickups; Order from hundreds of local restaurants; Low-cost and premium options; Track delivery
$200.00
Bestseller No. 2
Uber eGift Card
Uber eGift Card
24/7 safe pickups; Order from hundreds of local restaurants; Low-cost and premium options; Track delivery
$50.00
Bestseller No. 3
Uber eGift Card
Uber eGift Card
Redemption: Mobile App; No returns and no refunds on gift cards.
$100.00
Bestseller No. 4
Uber Physical Gift Card
Uber Physical Gift Card
24/7 safe pickups; Order from hundreds of local restaurants; Low-cost and premium options; Ratings ensure premium quality
$50.00
Bestseller No. 5
Uber eGift Card
Uber eGift Card
24/7 safe pickups; Order from hundreds of local restaurants; Low-cost and premium options; Ratings ensure premium quality
$15.00
Best Value
Uber eGift Card
  • 24/7 safe pickups
  • Order from hundreds of local restaurants
  • Low-cost and premium options
  • Ratings ensure premium quality
  • Track delivery
Rank #4
Uber Physical Gift Card
  • 24/7 safe pickups
  • Order from hundreds of local restaurants
  • Low-cost and premium options
  • Ratings ensure premium quality
  • Track delivery
Rank #3
Uber eGift Card
  • This card is redeemable via the Uber app within the U.S. in cities where Uber is available.
  • Redemption: Mobile App
  • No returns and no refunds on gift cards.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.