Booking Holdings Declares $2.25 Billion Profits for Q2-2025

Booking Holdings, the parent company of well-known online travel platforms like Booking.com and Agoda, announced an impressive operating profit of $2.25 billion for the second quarter of 2025, marking a 21% increase compared to the previous year.

In total, 309 million room nights were booked during this quarter, reflecting an 8% rise year-over-year—Asia stood out as the only region achieving double-digit growth. While Europe and others reported high single-digit growth, the United States lagged behind with only low single-digit growth.

A Shift in Growth Dynamics

The results indicate a significant shift; Asia is now recognized as more than a mere supplemental area for growth for Booking Holdings and its subsidiaries. Instead, it has emerged as the company’s primary growth driver, representing a crucial second curve for future advancements.

Asia’s growth is largely attributed to its market scale, demographic advantages, infrastructure enhancements, and rising income levels. With the collective expertise of Booking.com and Agoda, the company aims to harness the momentum in this region, expecting continued growth in room nights over the medium term.

Insights on China’s Role

In discussing the quarterly results, CEO Glenn Fogel expressed skepticism about competing effectively in the domestic Chinese market, revealing that it has proven more challenging than previously anticipated. Nonetheless, he acknowledged strong resilience in inbound travel to China, noting that Booking Holdings benefits from increased inbound bookings from travelers across Europe, Asia, and other regions, excluding the U.S., which positively impacts platform revenue.

Fogel commented: “We have talked about how we don’t really think much of China as an area in which we will be able to compete well domestically. It’s also somewhat more problematic than we’d hoped around a decade ago when we had higher hopes of us being able to be a major player there for outbound business.”

Translation: Fogel stated that the company faces challenges in competing in the domestic Chinese market.