Travel Market Insights
Amex GBT Aims for $155 Million in Savings From CWT Merger
Large mergers can be messy affairs, but Global Business Travel Group officials are focused on cost savings now that the merger with CWT is slated to close soon.
“We expect to deliver approximately $155 million in identified net synergies and have a proven track record of integrating large acquisitions and achieving our synergy targets,” Paul Abbott, the CEO of Amex GBT, said during the second-quarter earnings call. Those savings would be over a three-year period.
The merger of the #1 (Amex GBT) and #4 (CWT) largest global players in business travel is on track to close before the end of September now that the U.S. Department of Justice dismissed its own lawsuit against the merger.
Abbott said that “given the recent clarity on CWT,” it plans to initiate additional share repurchases in the next few months.
The CEO said he can’t comment on CWT’s financial performance but will do so in November during the next quarterly presentation.
“Our commercial success, margin expansion and improved demand environment give us confidence to raise and narrow our full-year 2025 guidance,” Abbott said.
Customer Wins
The commercial success was a reference to market share gains and $3.2 billion in new customer wins over the past year. Some $2.2 billion of those wins were of small- and medium-sized businesses, a segment that has been traditionally hard to capture.
Amex GBT’s adjusted EBITDA increased 4% in the second quarter. Revenue rose 1% to $631 million.
After macro uncertainty saw corporate travel demand dip modestly in April, transactions grew a combined 2% in May and June. “We continue to see green shoots into July that give us confidence that the demand environment has improved,” Abbott said.
The travel industry’s top event returns this fall.
September 16-18, 2025 – NEW YORK CITY
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call Wednesday that it is still “feeling out” the possibility of working with the big AI chatbots like ChatGPT, which he called “an incredibly compelling product.”
“We’re certainly open to” integrating with major AI Chatbots, which could be a source of lead generation for Airbnb, Chesky said.
Unlike Booking.com, which has partnerships with OpenAI, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft and sees generative AI chatbots as a new distribution channel, Airbnb has made no decisions yet about selling stays, Services or Experiences through major AI assistants.
AI Chatbots Are
Key Points
- Airbnb relaunched its Experiences and introduced new Services, showing promising early results with 60,000 host applications.
- The company reported strong Q2 financials, including 13% revenue growth (to $13.1 billion) and a 16% rise in net income, outpacing expectations.
- AI-powered customer service has been expanded to all U.S. users, reducing the need for human agents by 15%, with plans for further global rollout.
Summary
Airbnb reported strong second-quarter financial results, highlighted by the positive early performance of its relaunched Experiences and new Services segment, which allow guests to book additional amenities. The company saw a 7% year-over-year increase in nights and seats booked, significant revenue and net income growth, and notable international expansion, particularly in markets like Japan. Additionally, Airbnb expanded AI-powered customer service to all U.S. users, reducing human support needs, with global rollout planned.
Southwest Airlines flights will now be available to book on Priceline, making it the second online travel agency to partner with the Dallas-based carrier.
The two companies announced the partnership on Wednesday, and through the deal, Southwest flights will also be available across Booking Holdings platforms, which include Booking.com and Agoda.
Southwest customers will be able to compare fare bundles and earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points, along with Pricelin
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