Uber Canada Adds Hotel Bookings and Personal Shopping to App

Uber is trying to become much more than just a way to catch a ride or order a burrito. At its annual GO–GET event in New York yesterday, the company showed off a bunch of new features designed to turn the app into a one-stop shop for travel and daily chores.

Through a new deal with Expedia, users in the United States can now book hotels directly inside the Uber app, with access to over 700,000 properties worldwide. To sweeten the deal, Uber One members receive 10% back in credits on these bookings. Uber told iPhone in Canada that hotel bookings will be available in Canada in the “coming months”, with vacation rentals through Vrbo and an expansion to more countries planned for later this year.

One of the more interesting additions is Shop for Me. This service lets you ask a courier to pick up items from literally any retail store, even if that merchant is not officially listed on the app. This allows for the delivery of specific items like hardware, specialty groceries, or plants.

There are several other updates for travellers as well. Travel Mode provides local recommendations and OpenTable reservations, while a new Eats for the Way feature lets those using Uber Reserve pre-order a snack or drink to be waiting in the vehicle upon arrival. The company is also introducing an AI-powered voice assistant for booking rides. Additionally, Uber One membership benefits will now function internationally for members travelling abroad.

The partnership works both ways, too. Starting in June, Expedia app users will see integrated Uber ride options and will receive notifications to book discounted rides shortly before their hotel check-in dates. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated that the goal is to help users reclaim their time by reducing the number of separate apps needed to manage daily life, letting people spend less time on logistics and more time on their actual experiences.