36 hours in Seattle: EXPLORE 2025

This week, we welcomed more than 500 partners to our Seattle headquarters for Expedia Group’s 26th EXPLORE conference. From bold insights on the future of travel to hands-on innovation, it was a fast-paced, inspiring day packed with rich connections and actionable ideas to fuel growth.

A lively lineup of executive keynote speakers, dynamic external panelists and insight-packed presentations kept engagement high on the main stage throughout the day. Notably, Expedia Group announced a major expansion of our technology platform with new APIs and advertising innovations designed to power partner growth and unlock smarter traveller engagement.

Our closing keynote speaker, Arthur Brooks, shared final reflections on the unique role the travel industry plays in fostering meaning, connection and ultimately, happiness.

Our breakout sessions provided an opportunity for key partner segments to dive deeper into the solutions and innovations most relevant to them. We unveiled fresh insights from our just published 2025 Traveller Value Index (TVI), which we conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research to analyse data from 11,000 consumers across 11 markets.

This year’s report uncovered the growing importance of travel, shifting traveller priorities and emerging influences on booking.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been EXPLORE without showing (not just telling) what’s next. Our interactive Expedia Voices think tanks brought partners and product leaders together in a more intimate setting to brainstorm, address challenges and spark real-time ideas on key topics like AI, automation, visibility, event tourism and more. These sessions brought us deeper insight into the challenges and opportunities that will directly shape how we build going forward.

Meanwhile, the Solution Space was buzzing with hands-on demos and a full lineup of travel tech—everything from traveller experience to pricing strategies, visibility boosting, advertising, Private Label Solutions and beyond. 

Our Blue Room podcast studio with activity throughout the day, with industry heavyweights sharing their personal stories, travel adventures and advice for scaling wider business success through travel. Now in both video and audio, season 5 is stacked with a lineup of recognisable faces including:

• Jaime Camil – Actor, Coco, Jane the Virgin 
• Arthur Brooks – Author, Harvard professor, keynote speaker 
• Phil Keoghan – Host, The Amazing Race  
• Chef Julian Hagood – Seattle-based chef, Owner Harry’s Guest House Boutique Hotel 
• Tayme Thapthimthong – Actor, The White Lotus Season 3