Tripadvisor has partnered with AI search engine Perplexity: the same company I mentioned in last month’s newsletter. As part of the deal, Tripadvisor will provide exclusive data, including AI-generated review summaries and user insights, to help deliver more personalized recommendations. Tripadvisor has been struggling to find its way for years (once trading at $100+ a share after spinning off from Expedia, now hovering around $17). This collaboration feels like a move to stay relevant as AI-driven search reshapes the travel space. If I were a betting man, I’d wager these AI recommendations will be monetized—meaning hotels may have to pay Tripadvisor to appear in the results. Everything old is new again!
Expedia is at it again, layoffs that is
February 17, 2026
