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Uber is investigating the hotel business. <\/p>\n
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The ride-hailing company on Wednesday said it will now let users book hotels directly in the Uber app. You can browse over 700,000 hotels worldwide through our partnership with Expedia. <\/p>\n
This may be the most attractive Uber One<\/a> Customers who choose will receive a 20% discount on a rolling list of 10,000 hotels. Members also get 10% back in Uber Credit on all bookings. (Uber One costs $9.99 per month.)<\/p>\n To book a hotel through the Uber app, tap the new hotel icon on the home screen. Then enter your destination to browse nearby accommodation. You can view options on the map or in list view. Filters allow you to narrow your search based on metrics like guest ratings, price, accessibility features, and amenities. <\/p>\n The prices you see listed include taxes, fees and any discounts. The app will also show how many Uber Credits you’ll earn if you’re an Uber One customer. Similar to booking a ride, you can confirm the reservation and pay using the default payment method in your Uber Wallet. <\/p>\n Uber also plans to launch vacation rentals with Vrbo later this year. <\/p>\n The company unveiled several other features coming to its ride-hailing app as well as Uber Eats (detailed below). The updates indicate ways Uber hopes to strengthen its membership service, which has more than 46 million members according to the company and is available in 47 countries. Uber One gives members discounts and credits on rides and deliveries \u2013 while also bringing a steady source of income for the company. (Last year, Uber was embroiled in a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit over alleged deceptive practices involving Uber One.) Competitor Lyft has its own subscription service with priority pickup and discounts called elevator pink<\/a>. <\/p>\n Uber Eats launched nearly 10 years ago, allowing the company to branch out beyond ride-hailing \u2014 which undoubtedly came in handy during the COVID-19 pandemic as people stayed home and ordered in. This next foray into hotels, as well as other ventures like autonomous ride-hailing partnerships, further diversifies Uber’s offerings and expands its presence into many aspects of people’s lives. <\/p>\n This finally fulfills Uber’s long-standing plan to become a super app and one-stop shop for all your needs. Earlier this month, Uber Eats added a feature to handle customer returns. <\/p>\n Starting June 1, Uber One members will still be able to earn ride credits and get $0 delivery fees when traveling abroad. You will be able to access your rewards when you return home.<\/p>\n When traveling outside your home city, you’ll see a list of local favorites and tourist attractions, and can tap a button to book a ride to those locations. In the Uber Eats app, a new room service hub will show commonly forgotten items like toiletries, as well as items from local favorite businesses that you can have delivered. The option to include utensils in meal orders will be automatically checked, so you won’t be stranded in your hotel room with no way to eat. Soon, you’ll also see the option to book a table through OpenTable. <\/p>\n An upcoming AI-powered voice booking feature lets you talk to an in-app virtual assistant to book an Uber ride. Tap the microphone icon in the search bar and describe where you want to go along with your preferences, like if you’re bringing a pet or want the cheapest ride. The AI \u200b\u200bagent will show you the best options, and you can confirm your booking. <\/p>\n Uber has a more integrated search function to get results for ride-hailing destinations as well as delivery.<\/p>\n <\/span> uber<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Another new feature, if you’re opting for the more advanced Uber Black or Uber Black SUV ride, lets you request a favorite beverage or snack for the ride. Once your scheduled pickup is confirmed, tap “Add Uber Eats” to choose your coffee, tea or snack, and the driver will pick it up before picking you up. The feature, called Eats for the Way, will launch in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego and San Francisco in the coming weeks. <\/p>\n The Uber app will now work more seamlessly with Uber Eats as well. The bar at the top of the ride-hailing interface will now act as a single search for places, food, and items across all platforms. For example, a search for \u201cice cream\u201d will show places where you can book a ride, as well as delivery options through Uber Eats. <\/p>\n And finally, you can request items from stores that aren’t in the Uber Eats app. A new Shop for Me tab on the home screen lets you provide a description and photos of what you want, so a buyer can find the item. You will pay the price in store. <\/p>\n<\/div>\nOther Uber and Uber Eats updates<\/h2>\n