Booking Holdings
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel technology |
| Founded | January 1, 1996 in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Founder | Jay S. Walker |
| Headquarters | Norwalk, Connecticut , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (around 200 countries) |
Key people | Glenn D. Fogel (CEO), Robert J. Mylod Jr. (Board Chair) |
| Products | Booking.com, Priceline.com, Agoda, Kayak, Cheapflights, Rentalcars.com, Momondo, OpenTable |
| Revenue | US$23.74 billion (2024) |
| US$7.555 billion (2024) | |
| US$5.882 billion (2024) | |
Number of employees | 24,300 (2024) |
| Website | www |
Booking Holdings Inc. is a U.S.-based travel technology corporation with its main office located at 800 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut. Established by Jay S. Walker, the firm manages prominent travel fare aggregators and metasearch platforms such as its leading brand Booking.com, along with Priceline.com, Agoda, Kayak, Cheapflights, Rentalcars.com, Momondo, and OpenTable. These services operate in roughly 40 languages and cover around 200 countries worldwide.
Placed 243rd on the Fortune 500 list by revenue, Booking Holdings earns the bulk of its income from commission fees, complemented by advertising sales. In 2023 alone, its platforms facilitated more than one billion room night bookings, 74 million rental car days, and 36 million airline ticket purchases.
Key leadership includes CEO Glenn D. Fogel and Board Chair Robert J. Mylod Jr. The company’s financial results for 2024 show revenues of US$23.74 billion, operating income of US$7.555 billion, and net earnings of US$5.882 billion, supported by a global workforce numbering approximately 24,300 employees. Its broad portfolio and international reach provide a strong competitive edge within the online travel sector.
History
Founded in 1996 by Jay S. Walker in Stamford, Connecticut, the company initially launched Priceline.com, an online travel platform featuring a Name Your Own Price bidding system.
The firm went public in 1999 through an initial public offering, turning Walker—who retained a 35% ownership stake—into a billionaire. It began trading on the NASDAQ National Market under the ticker symbol "PCLN".
Although Priceline briefly ventured into groceries, fuel, mortgages, and automotive sales, these expansions were discontinued by 2000.
A strategic milestone occurred in July 2005 with the acquisition of Booking.com for $133 million, significantly broadening its travel service offerings.
By October 2009, the company was included in the Nasdaq-100 index, underscoring its increasing market prominence.
On April 1, 2014, it rebranded from priceline.com Incorporated to The Priceline Group Inc., reflecting wider corporate ambitions.
In August 2017, KAYAK, a subsidiary, acquired Brazilian metasearch business Mundi to enhance its footprint in Latin America.
The company adopted the name Booking Holdings and changed its ticker to "BKNG" on February 21, 2018, highlighting its dedication to global travel services.
An effort to acquire GoToGate was thwarted by European regulatory authorities, demonstrating regulatory hurdles faced when pursuing growth via acquisitions in regulated regions.
CEOs
Jeffery H. Boyd held the CEO position from 2002 until 2013 before transitioning to chairman of Booking Holdings’ board. Darren Huston succeeded him as CEO starting January 1, 2014. Huston resigned on April 28, 2016, following disclosure of a personal relationship with an employee; Boyd then resumed the role as interim CEO. Glenn D. Fogel was appointed CEO and president effective January 1, 2017.
Financial performance
Summary of key financial data for Booking Holdings (fiscal years ending December 31):
| Year | Revenue (US$ bn) | Net Income (US$ bn) | Total Assets (US$ bn) | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 10.7 | 2.1 | 19.8 | 18,500 |
| 2017 | 12.6 | 2.3 | 25.4 | 22,900 |
| 2018 | 14.5 | 3.9 | 22.6 | 24,500 |
| 2019 | 15.0 | 4.8 | 21.4 | 26,400 |
| 2020 | 6.7 | 0.06 | 21.8 | 20,300 |
| 2021 | 10.9 | 1.1 | 23.6 | 20,300 |
| 2022 | 17.0 | 3.0 | 25.3 | 21,600 |
| 2023 | 21.3 | 4.2 | 24.3 | 23,600 |
| 2024 | 23.7 | 5.8 | 27.7 | 24,300 |
Acquisitions
| # | Year | Company | Price | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1997 | Priceline.com | — | |
| 1 | 2004 | Significant shares in Travelweb and Active Hotels | — | |
| 2 | 2005 | Booking.com | $133 million | |
| 3 | 2007 | Agoda.com | — | |
| 4 | 2010 | TravelJigsaw / Rentalcars.com | — | |
| 5 | 2013 | Kayak.com | $1.8 billion | |
| 6 | 2014 | OpenTable | $2.6 billion | |
| 7 | 2014 | Buuteeq and Hotel Ninjas | $98 million | |
| 8 | 2015 | Rocketmiles | — | |
| 9 | 2017 | Momondo and Cheapflights | $550 million | |
| 10 | 2017 | Mundi | — | |
| 11 | 2018 | FareHarbor | $250 million | |
| 12 | 2018 | Minority investment in DiDi | $500 million | |
| 13 | 2018 | HotelsCombined | $140 million | |
| 14 | 2019 | Venga | — | |
| 15 | 2022 | Getaroom | $1.2 billion |
These strategic acquisitions have played a crucial role in boosting Booking Holdings' expansion and strengthening its presence in worldwide markets and various travel sectors, thereby enhancing its leadership position within the online travel marketplace.