Travel companies using AI could help them become big winners, says Evercore's Mark Mahaney

Government Shutdown Impact on Travel Industry - The government shutdown could impact the travel industry by $1 billion per week [1] - Online travel agencies with a global presence, like Booking Holdings (booking.com), are less vulnerable due to 85% of bookings being outside the US [1] - Airbnb sees 50%+ of its bookings in the US, making it more susceptible to the shutdown's effects [1] - Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt experienced a 10% drop in Canadian visitation earlier in the year, but it was offset by Canadians traveling to Mexico and the Caribbean [1] AI in Travel Industry - Expedia is using AI to enhance customer experience and focus on B2B opportunities [1] - Companies like Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb may deploy AI to create their own travel agent-like commerce options [2] - Expedia's "Romy" is considered the most ready-for-prime-time AI travel product among those tested [3] - AI can improve the information-intensive travel planning process, potentially benefiting companies that leverage it effectively [4] - AI can help companies manage real-time availability and pricing, giving Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb an advantage [5] - Airbnb views AI as both a threat and an opportunity, using an internal AI engine to personalize customer interactions [7][8] Stock Performance and Investment Opportunities - Expedia's stock is up almost 30% over 6 months, outpacing Booking (up 15%) and Trip Advisor (up 10%) [7] - Expedia is considered a top pick due to its relatively low valuation at 13-14 times earnings and potential for growth convergence with industry leaders like Booking and Airbnb [10][11]