If you thought Uber was just a taxi app, think again. At its annual GO-GET 2026 product event in New York on 29 April, the company unveiled a raft of new features that push it firmly into territory previously occupied by Booking.com, Expedia and your local personal shopper. We already covered the Uber Black coffee feature separately, but there was a lot more announced that day worth knowing about.
Book a Hotel Through Uber
The biggest announcement of the event was a new partnership with Expedia Group, allowing users to book hotels directly inside the Uber app for the first time. The new Hotels icon on the Uber home screen lets users search, browse and book from over 700,000 properties worldwide, with filters for price, guest ratings, amenities, hotel class and more. Uber One members get at least 20% off a rolling list of 10,000 hotels and 10% back in Uber One credits on all bookings. Vacation rentals through Vrbo — also owned by Expedia — are expected to be added later in 2026.
The partnership also runs the other way. From June, Uber rides will be integrated directly into the Expedia app, meaning travellers can sort their hotel and their airport transfer in one place. Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin summed it up neatly: “Where Uber can take you, we can help you stay.”
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, who spent 12 years running Expedia before moving to Uber, was clearly pleased to be reuniting his two former companies. “Uber is becoming an app for everything — helping people go, get, and now travel all in one place,” he said at the event.
Travel Mode — Your In-App City Guide
Alongside hotel bookings, Uber introduced Travel Mode, a new experience built into both the Uber and Uber Eats apps for when you’re away from home. It offers curated recommendations for local restaurants, tourist hotspots and attractions, plus the ability to make restaurant reservations through OpenTable. You can also use it to order food or forgotten travel essentials delivered straight to your hotel room. Think of it as a pocket concierge built into an app you’re already using.
Voice Bookings — Just Say Where You’re Going
Uber also unveiled an AI-powered Voice Bookings feature, which lets users request a ride using a conversational voice assistant rather than typing a destination. The assistant understands your destination and preferences and presents the best available options. It’s aimed squarely at those moments when your hands are full — running through the airport with luggage, wrangling kids, or juggling shopping bags.
Shop For Me — Personal Shopping on Demand
Perhaps the most unexpected announcement was Shop For Me, a new feature that lets users request items from virtually any store — even ones that aren’t on the Uber platform. You describe the item, add notes, upload a photo if needed, and a personal shopper picks it up and delivers it to your door. The service is rolling out initially in Tampa, Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago, with more cities to follow. No word yet on a UK launch date.
What It Means for Drivers
From a driver’s perspective, this is all worth paying attention to. Uber’s push to become a travel super-app means more reasons for passengers to open Uber, which in turn should mean more trip demand — particularly around airports and hotels. Whether that translates into meaningful extra earnings for drivers on the ground remains to be seen, but the direction of travel is clear. Uber is no longer simply competing with other taxi apps. It’s competing with the entire travel industry.
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Sources
Uber Expands into Travel with Hotel Bookings and New In-App Features — Uber Official Press Release
Uber Rolls Out New Travel Features — ABC News
Uber Makes Big Bets on Travel, Hotels and AI Voice Bookings — CNBC
