Uber has recently expanded its services in the United States by introducing a hotel booking feature within its app. Announced during the company’s annual Go-Get event in New York City, this new capability reflects Uber’s evolution from a mere ride-hailing service to a comprehensive platform integrated into various aspects of users’ lives.
Through a collaboration with Expedia Group, an industry player formerly led by Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, the app now offers access to over 700,000 hotels worldwide. Additionally, Uber plans to incorporate vacation rental listings from Vrbo later this year, further diversifying its offerings. To incentivise its subscription service, Uber One members will benefit from 20% discounts on a rotating selection of 10,000 hotels and earn 10% back in Uber Credits on their bookings.
Khosrowshahi emphasised the transformation of Uber’s platform, stating, “We’re no longer just an app for rides,” highlighting the company’s goal to encompass travel beyond transportation. Alongside hotel bookings, Uber unveiled new features including an AI-driven voice booking option and improved search functionalities. Chief Technology Officer Praveen Neppalli Naga explained that these advancements have been made possible through agentic AI tools, which have drastically reduced the development timeline for new features from what traditionally took a year down to just a few months.
Naga noted that while Uber has a wealth of ideas for new functionalities, challenges often stem from limited time and resources. The adoption of agentic AI workflows among engineers has made it possible to expedite innovation within the company.
Additionally, Uber’s event saw the launch of “travel mode,” providing users with guides to popular tourist spots and local attractions tailored to their travel destinations. This functionality extends to Uber Eats, where a new “room service” hub will provide a list of often-forgotten items and will eventually include dining recommendations and table reservations via OpenTable.
In line with enhancing user experience, Uber also introduced “Eats for the Way,” allowing customers who have booked an Uber Black to order snacks or drinks that will be delivered in the vehicle upon arrival.
With these initiatives, Uber is positioning itself as a multifaceted app that caters to a range of user needs, solidifying its role well beyond a simple rideshare service.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
Watch more about AI – Artificial Intelligence
