Leadership Changes - Kenta Kon has been promoted to president and CEO of Toyota Motor, effective April 1, succeeding Koji Sato, who will become vice chairman and chief industry officer [2] - Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah will step down as CFO of Uber on February 16, 2026, and will be replaced by Balaji Krishnamurthy, currently vice president of strategic finance at Uber [3] - Peer Bueller has been promoted to CEO of Kayak, succeeding cofounder Steve Hafner, who will become executive chair and focus on AI innovation at Booking Holdings [4] - Liz Coddington, CFO of Peloton, is leaving for a similar role at Palmetto, with her departure effective March 30 [5] - Anubhav Mittal's employment offer to become CFO of Universal Corp. has been withdrawn, and Johan Kroner will continue as CFO until a successor is named [6] Background of Key Individuals - Kenta Kon has been with Toyota since 1991 and served as CFO since July 2025 [2] - Balaji Krishnamurthy joined Uber in 2019 and has held various leadership roles, including head of investor relations [3] - Peer Bueller joined Kayak in 2016 as CFO and took on the COO role in 2021 [4] - Liz Coddington joined Peloton as CFO in June 2022, previously working at Amazon and other notable companies [5] - Anubhav Mittal has worked at ADM for 10 years, most recently as CFO of ADM Nutrition, a $8 billion business [6] Company Implications - Toyota's leadership transition may signal a strategic shift under new management [2] - Uber's CFO change could impact its financial strategy and investor relations [3] - Kayak's new CEO may drive innovation and operational changes within the company [4] - Peloton's CFO transition could affect its financial management and strategic direction [5] - Universal Corp.'s withdrawal of Mittal's offer may create uncertainty in its financial leadership [6]

BOSTON, Jan. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With football’s biggest weekend set to bring tens of thousands of fans to Santa Clara, new search data from KAYAK, a leading travel search engine, shows that traveling to the Bay Area for this year’s championship game is significantly more affordable than attending last year’s big game in New Orleans. According to KAYAK, fans flying into the Bay Area are paying an average of $331 for airfare, which is up 12% year over year compared to this time last year. Despite th ...

Core Insights - KAYAK's 2026 Travel Trends Forecast indicates a year of exploration driven by increased travel interest, lower airfares, and emerging global hotspots [1][2] Travel Interest and Airfare Trends - Travel interest has risen by 9%, while airfares have decreased by 3% domestically and 10% internationally, making travel more affordable [2] - International airfare has decreased by 12%, with Asia and Europe seeing reductions of 16% and 14% respectively [10] Trending Destinations - Eastern Europe is highlighted as a leading region for travel in 2026, with seven of the top ten trending destinations located there [3] - Notable increases in interest for specific cities include: - Prague, Czech Republic: up 180% - Sofia, Bulgaria: up 136% - Krakow, Poland: up 106% - Budapest, Hungary: up 86% - Tirana, Albania: up 66% - Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: up 62% [5] Fandom and Event-Driven Travel - Travel behavior is increasingly influenced by pop culture, sports, and global events, with cities associated with major fandoms experiencing significant interest [4] - Kansas City has seen a 14% rise in interest, driven by its football team and upcoming world soccer tournament [6] Best Deals and Affordability - KAYAK's analysis indicates that the best flight deals are returning, particularly for long-haul travel, with significant drops in airfare for various destinations: - Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: down 36% - Split, Croatia: down 33% - Naples, Italy: down 26% - Florence, Italy: down 26% - Shannon, Ireland: down 25% [6] Summer 2026 Insights - Early searches for summer 2026 show a 9% increase compared to the previous year, indicating strong international interest [7]

Core Insights - The article highlights the overlooked travel destinations in the UK that offer rich history, culture, and value, contrasting with popular tourist spots [1][2] Group 1: Underrated Destinations - KAYAK's 'Not Hot' list includes destinations such as Worcester, Salford, and Lancaster, which are less searched but offer unique experiences [2][5] - These locations provide opportunities for local experiences, such as enjoying cider in Worcester and exploring the film industry in Bolton [2] Group 2: Company Background - KAYAK is identified as the world's leading travel search engine, part of Booking Holdings, and facilitates travel planning for millions of users [4]

Core Insights - Holiday travel interest has increased by 10% year-over-year, indicating strong demand for seasonal getaways despite stable or declining prices across major travel categories [2][5] Travel Trends - Eastern Europe has become a prominent holiday travel destination in 2025, with significant increases in flight searches, attributed to new flight routes and the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria in the Schengen Area [2] - Notable increases in flight searches include Warsaw, Poland (up 73% YoY), and Prague, Czech Republic (up 65% YoY), highlighting the region's appeal for affordable and culturally rich winter escapes [6] Price Analysis - International flight prices have decreased by 7% year-over-year, while domestic flight prices dipped by 1% [5] - Rental car prices in the U.S. dropped by 6%, while hotel rates remained stable with a 2% increase domestically and a 5% increase internationally [5] Best Travel Days - The cheapest day for domestic flights during Thanksgiving is November 24, with an average fare of $415, while December 24 is recommended for Christmas travel, offering lower prices and quieter airports [8] Travel Deals - KAYAK identified several destinations with significant drops in airfare compared to last year, including Myrtle Beach, SC (down 18% YoY, average $342) and Tokyo, Japan (down 29% YoY, average $1,071) [7] AI Travel Planning - KAYAK has introduced a new AI Mode to assist travelers in planning their trips through conversational searches, enhancing the user experience by providing real-time options for flights, hotels, and car rentals [4][9]