Sabre reports 5% growth in hotel bookings in Q1

Global surge in the GDS' hotel demand signals resilience amid air travel weakness and strategic shift toward core travel segments

May 8, 2025

Sabre reported a 3% year-over-year decline in air bookings for the first quarter of 2025 - underperforming expectations - but remains optimistic about the rest of the year. Despite current market softness across all travel segments, the company projects double-digit growth in air distribution bookings for the full year, largely driven by new agency partnerships and content expansion.

Key takeaways

  • Q1 air bookings decline: Air bookings fell 3% year over year, 3–4 points below Sabre’s prior forecast of flat to nominal growth.
  • Broad market softness: CEO Kurt Ekert cited global softness in corporate and leisure travel, including declines in inbound U.S. travel, North Asian group bookings, and U.S. military/government travel.
  • Optimistic outlook: Despite Q1 results, Sabre expects low single-digit growth in Q2 and double-digit growth for full-year 2025, driven by newly signed agency deals and expanded content.
  • Other segments: Lodging, ground, and sea bookings grew 5%; total distribution revenue dropped 1%; IT solutions revenue declined 6%; but Hospitality Solutions revenue rose 8%.
  • Strategic sale: Sabre is selling its Hospitality Solutions unit to TPG for $1.1 billion to reduce debt and sharpen strategic focus.

Get the full story at Sabre

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