On paper, Airbnb's exclusive short-term rental partnership with Amex Travel didn't change anything for Expedia because it wasn't supplying vacation rentals to Amex Travel. But Expedia's Vrbo has begun supplying vacation rentals to other B2B partners, and now the Airbnb deal blocks that potential expansion.
Two online travel rivals are now selling side by side on American Express Travel.
Airbnb on Thursday became the exclusive vacation rental partner for Amex Travel, putting more than 1 million listings in a new Homes tab on AmexTravel.com and the Amex Travel app.
But Amex Travel is also one of Expedia’s most important business-to-business partners. Expedia supplies it with flights, hotels and technology services, a relationship that dates to 2015, when Expedia acquired Travelocity. Expedia’s B2B business sells lodging and other travel to card issuers, airlines and travel agencies, and loyalty redemptions are central to it.
“There’s no change to our existing business with Expedia,” an American Express spokesperson told Skift. “The Airbnb partnership is focused on expanding our short-term rental offering and giving card
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Tags: airbnb, american express, cartrawler, expedia, online travel newsletter, partnerships, short term rentals, vacation rentals