Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Kayak and OpenTable, keeps growing in volume.
In the third quarter of 2026, the group reported 345 million nights stayed (+7%) and gross bookings of $54.5 billion (+10%, +11% at constant currency), according to its press release.
Revenue, however, declined by 1% to $8.9 billion. It includes a revenue reduction of $900 million and a $100 million impairment related to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) case. (see boxed note)
Excluding this item, adjusted revenue reached $9.8 billion, up 9%. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 9%, to $4.6 billion.
Nights booked in Booking.com’s alternative accommodations rose 7%, and the average price per room per night increased by roughly 3% at constant currency. Directly clocked gross bookings (merchant model) advanced 13.9% to $40.7 billion, while bookings in the agency model declined by 1.3% to $13.7 billion.
In the third quarter of 2026, the group reported 345 million nights stayed (+7%) and gross bookings of $54.5 billion (+10%, +11% at constant currency), according to its press release.
Revenue, however, declined by 1% to $8.9 billion. It includes a revenue reduction of $900 million and a $100 million impairment related to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) case. (see boxed note)
Excluding this item, adjusted revenue reached $9.8 billion, up 9%. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 9%, to $4.6 billion.
Nights booked in Booking.com’s alternative accommodations rose 7%, and the average price per room per night increased by roughly 3% at constant currency. Directly clocked gross bookings (merchant model) advanced 13.9% to $40.7 billion, while bookings in the agency model declined by 1.3% to $13.7 billion.
Slowdown Expected in the Fourth Quarter for Booking Holdings
According to the group, global demand cooled toward the end of the period due to a slowdown in international travel, while domestic trips remained resilient. In October, disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, higher airfares associated with it, and localized unrest in some European cities also weighed on results.
For the fourth quarter, Booking Holdings expects nights to rise by 1% to 3%, gross bookings by 2% to 4%, and adjusted revenue by 0% to 2%, with adjusted EBITDA roughly flat. These projections assume that the conflict’s effects persist through the end of the year.
“If geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty can affect near-term travel trends, we remain focused on simplifying travel, delivering for our partners, and investing in our business for the long term,” said Glenn Fogel, Chief Executive Officer of Booking Holdings, in the release.
For the fourth quarter, Booking Holdings expects nights to rise by 1% to 3%, gross bookings by 2% to 4%, and adjusted revenue by 0% to 2%, with adjusted EBITDA roughly flat. These projections assume that the conflict’s effects persist through the end of the year.
“If geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty can affect near-term travel trends, we remain focused on simplifying travel, delivering for our partners, and investing in our business for the long term,” said Glenn Fogel, Chief Executive Officer of Booking Holdings, in the release.
According to a Reuters dispatch cited by Boursorama on October 7, the FTC is investigating the ties between Booking Holdings, via Priceline, and Guest Reservations, a third-party site that sells hotel stays. The issue: online advertisements that appear to lead to the hotel’s site but redirect to this third-party site, where additional charges are often billed. One Reuters source mentioned potential fines exceeding $500 million.
