Booking Holdings stock jumps as OpenAI backs away from ChatGPT travel checkouts
Shares of Booking Holdings Inc surged roughly 8% Thursday, sparked by a report that OpenAI is pulling back on plans for direct travel bookings through ChatGPT—a move that soothed fears among investors about AI chatbots cutting out online travel agencies. Expedia jumped over 12%, while Tripadvisor tacked on about 5%. The Information noted users are turning to ChatGPT for travel research but still aren’t closing transactions there, and Bernstein’s Richard Clarke called this a sign the threat of disintermediation is fading. This shift is catching attention as generative AI — the latest batch of conversational tools that draft, sum up, or suggest — is being eyed as a potential gatekeeper for travel queries and bookings. Whoever winds up holding that