Online Travel Agencies 3Q14: Strong Growth, With Caution Ahead

Summary

U.S. online travel agencies (OTAs) continued to outshine in 3Q14. Aggregate worldwide gross bookings of the three global public OTAs - Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline - rose. There are, however, mounting concerns as the U.S. dollar rises, and a slowdown in Europe could curb OTAs' progress in the final quarter of the year. 

Global U.S. OTAs maintained their momentum in 3Q14 with double-digit growth all around. Expedia and Orbitz benefited from domestic gains, even as Priceline's growth slowed across both domestic and international markets. Still, the Priceline Group led other OTAs.