Booking.com’s upbeat forecast calms travel market worries

Steady demand and strong Q3 results boost confidence despite economic concerns

Booking Holdings delivered a stronger-than-expected full-year outlook, signaling that global travel demand remains resilient despite economic uncertainty and a potential US government shutdown. The company’s third-quarter performance exceeded analyst expectations, driving share gains across the online travel sector.

Key takeaways

• Full-year growth outlook: Booking expects room nights to increase about 7% this year, slightly above analyst estimates of 6.7%.
• Strong third quarter: Room nights sold rose 8% to 323 million, and gross bookings reached $49.7 billion—both surpassing projections.
• Regional performance: Solid demand across major regions, with the US seeing strong outbound travel but lower average daily rates and shorter stays.
• Investor reaction: Shares climbed 5% in after-hours trading, with Expedia and Airbnb also gaining ahead of their earnings reports.
• Consumer caution: Booking executives noted signs of more careful discretionary spending among US travelers.
• Mixed industry signals: Airlines show varied outlooks for year-end travel, highlighting broader market uncertainty.
• Q4 expectations: The company forecasts slower room nights growth of 4%–6% and revenue growth of 10%–12%, roughly in line with market consensus.

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