An article summarized by TechCrunch:
Uber is expanding beyond ride-hailing by adding hotel booking directly its app, giving U.S. users access to more than 700,000 hotels through a partnership with Expedia. The feature, announced at Uber’s Go-Get event in New York, marks a major toward turning Uber into a full-service travel platform. The company also plans to add vacation rentals from Vrbo later this year, further broadening its offerings.
To drive adoption, Uber is tying the feature into its Uber One subscription, offering members discounts on select hotels and cashback in Uber Credits. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi emphasized that Uber is evolving into an “everything app,” where users can not only get rides and food, but also plan and book travel. The company also introduced additional tools like travel guides, dining recommendations, and in-app restaurant reservations.
Uber credits rapid development of these features to advances in AI, which have significantly shortened product build times. Alongside hotel booking, the company unveiled new services like AI-powered voice booking, “Eats for the Way” for in-car snacks, and a travel mode with local recommendations. Altogether, these updates signal Uber’s push to become a central hub for transportation, food, and now travel planning.
