Leading Travel Booking Brands in the US: Q1 2025 Analysis

In Q1 2025, the travel booking industry in the United States continued to evolve, with major players such as Expedia, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor leading the charge. This article delves into the performance and trends of these brands, drawing insights from data provided by Sensor Tower. With a unique ability to cross-reference web, app, and advertising data, Sensor Tower offers unparalleled insights into cross-platform user behavior.

Expedia

Expedia's digital ecosystem is robust, featuring expedia.com and the Expedia: Hotels, Flights, Cars app.

• Audience Trends: From Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, expedia.com saw a notable increase in visits, reaching over 311M by March. The monthly true audience remained strong, exceeding 36M, with a balanced distribution between web and app visitors.

• App Engagement: The app’s monthly active users peaked at over 13M in March, indicating sustained interest in mobile booking options.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Monthly advertising spend saw a decline from December's high, with March expenditures around $11M. YouTube dominated impressions, while OTT channels saw increased investment, highlighting a strategic shift.

Booking.com

Booking.com operates both booking.com and the Booking.com: Hotels & Travel app.

• Audience Trends: The website experienced a surge in visits, reaching nearly 296M in March. The monthly true audience remained stable, with over 31M users, reflecting a healthy mix of web and app interactions.

• App Engagement: The app’s monthly active users grew steadily, surpassing 12M by March, underscoring its pivotal role in Booking.com’s strategy.

• Ad Spend & Channels: Monthly ad spend increased to $19M in March, with a significant push on Instagram and TikTok, indicating a focus on social media engagement.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor boasts a strong presence with tripadvisor.com and the Tripadvisor: Plan & Book Trips app.

• Audience Trends: The website's visits remained consistent, with a peak of over 92M in March. Monthly true audience numbers hovered around 18M, showing a preference for web usage.

• App Engagement: The app maintained a steady monthly active user base, reaching over 1.6M by March.

• Ad Spend & Channels: March saw monthly ad spend increase to $1.2M, with Facebook and Instagram leading in impressions, highlighting a targeted approach.

Conclusion

The travel booking landscape in Q1 2025 reveals dynamic shifts and strategic adaptations among leading brands. With Sensor Tower's comprehensive data, businesses can gain critical insights into user behavior across platforms, ensuring they remain competitive in this fast-paced industry. For more detailed insights, explore Sensor Tower's offerings in Web Insights, App Performance Insights, and Pathmatics.