Core Insights - Expedia's third-quarter results exceeded expectations, leading to a nearly 15% surge in stock price after hours and extending to about 17% in pre-market trading, driven by strong bookings growth and an optimistic outlook [2][5] Group 1: Travel Demand - Travel demand remains robust, with Expedia booking 108.2 million room nights, an 11% year-over-year increase, and an average daily rate (ADR) of $209, indicating that travelers continue to spend despite rising costs [5] - Total gross bookings reached $30.7 billion, comprising $22.7 billion in lodging and $8 billion in non-lodging categories such as air travel, car rentals, and experiences [5] - Air ticket volume hit 14.4 million, reflecting a strong rebound in international and business travel [5] Group 2: Business Model Shift - The merchant model has become the leading booking model for Expedia, generating $18.9 billion in bookings, surpassing the agency model's $11.9 billion, which enhances pricing control and margins per transaction [6] - B2B bookings increased to $9.4 billion, accounting for approximately 31% of total bookings, highlighting Expedia's expanding role as a platform for other brands and loyalty programs [6] Group 3: Operational Performance - Expedia's operational metrics indicate strong growth in both consumer and partner segments, with a focus on converting high volume into sustainable, margin-rich earnings [7] - Despite the positive performance, competition from Booking Holdings and Google's travel ecosystem continues to exert pressure on marketing expenditures and profitability [6]