Expedia CEO: Slow Growth in Consumer Business Was Due to Sluggish U.S. Market

The tepid growth in Expedia Group's consumer business in the second quarter compared with healthy expansion in its B2B segment was mostly due to the sluggish U.S. travel market.

Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin shared that view with the audience at Skift Global Forum in New York City Thursday, noting that its U.S. consumer business is concentrated in the U.S. while the B2B segment has more international penetration, and the disparity was mostly the "market effect."

In the second quarter, gross bookings in Expedia's B2C businesses – including for Expedia.com, Hotels.com and Vrbo – grew 1% year-over-year. The B2B segment gre