Uber is reportedly exploring the acquisition of Expedia, the world's fourth-largest travel and lodging company. This would mark Uber's most significant acquisition to date, following its expansion from ride-sharing to food delivery.
The Financial Times reported this speculation based on anonymous sources familiar with the discussions. Neither company has commented on the matter.
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber's current CEO, previously led Expedia from 2005 to 2017 and remains on its board. He would recuse himself from negotiations to avoid conflicts of interest.
If successful, this acquisition could advance Uber's ambition to develop a 'super app' that offers a wide range of services, similar to platforms like X and Telegram.
Expedia generated $12.8 billion in revenue in 2023, benefiting from the tourism sector's recovery post-pandemic, although 2024 has not been as strong. Expedia's market valuation is approximately $20 billion, while Uber's exceeds $170 billion.
The Financial Times also mentioned Barry Diller, the chairman of Expedia and a mentor to Khosrowshahi, as potentially playing a significant role in the negotiations.