Uber is expanding its mobile platform beyond rides and food delivery by allowing users to book and pay for hotel rooms directly within the app, according to a report from The Verge.
The company announced the move during its annual Go/Get product event, revealing a new partnership with travel booking giant Expedia. The feature will initially offer access to more than 700,000 hotel properties worldwide.
This expansion marks one of the most significant shifts in Uber's service offerings in recent years. The integration utilizes Expedia’s API to bring lodging options to the existing interface used for rides, food, and grocery shopping.
Uber’s chief product officer, Sachin Kansal, noted that the move targets users who already rely on the platform for various travel-related needs, such as airport transfers or ordering meals upon arrival.
“I think there will continue to be multiple apps in this world, as there already are in the travel world and the hotels world,” Kansal said in an interview with The Verge. “Our main goal is to be able to tie the experience together for our users.”
Seamless integration
Uber engineers designed the new tool to function as a native part of the app experience rather than a simple web link. Kansal clarified that the feature is not merely a web view based on Expedia's user interface, but a custom-built integration.
The expansion also signals a broader strategy to capture more of the travel market. Uber plans to introduce home rentals through Vrbo later this year.
The partnership also carries personal significance for the company's leadership. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi previously served as the CEO of Expedia before joining Uber.
