Investments

 alt="Frontdesk acquires short-term rental operator Zencity"  title="Frontdesk acquires short-term rental operator Zencity"
News / Startups
Frontdesk acquires short-term rental operator Zencity
By Derek Catron | June 6, 2023
The purchase is part of a plan to expand Frontdesk’s inventory of furnished apartments maintained to hotel standards that can be rented for nights, weeks or months at a time.   Read More
 alt="Iris launches venture arm to build hospitality tech ecosystem"  title="Iris launches venture arm to build hospitality tech ecosystem"
News / Technology
Iris launches venture arm to build hospitality tech ecosystem
By Linda Fox | June 6, 2023
Iris Tech Ventures, spearheaded by Iris CEO Mark Horne, is targeting travel and hospitality startups across the world who are working on improving the guest experience. Read More
 alt="What travel companies can do to keep banks’ trust"  title="What travel companies can do to keep banks’ trust"
News / Online
What travel companies can do to keep banks’ trust
By Bob Kaufman – ConnexPay | June 2, 2023
Banks become more conservative at times of economic unrest. The companies that bear the brunt of that conservatism are those that banks term “high risk” — and that unfortunately includes much of the... Read More
 alt="Hostaway raises $175M for vacation rental tech expansion"  title="Hostaway raises $175M for vacation rental tech expansion"
News / Startups
Hostaway raises $175M for vacation rental tech expansion
By Linda Fox | May 31, 2023
Hostaway, which launched in 2016, plans to put the funds towards recruitment, strengthening customer service and further growth, with acquisitions potentially in the cards. Read More
 alt="HostGPO raises $6M to fuel expansion efforts"  title="HostGPO raises $6M to fuel expansion efforts"
News / Startups
HostGPO raises $6M to fuel expansion efforts
By Derek Catron | May 26, 2023
Navitas Capital led the round alongside Omnia Partners. Also investing in the round are 75&Sunny, Brian Lee and PAR Capital Ventures. Read More
 alt="Meet the 15 semifinalists of the Global Startup Pitch"  title="Meet the 15 semifinalists of the Global Startup Pitch"
News / Startups
Meet the 15 semifinalists of the Global Startup Pitch
By Yeoh Siew Hoon – Web In Travel | May 25, 2023
After a marathon of startup pitches that went around the world, 15 companies have been chosen as semifinalists in the Global Startup Pitch run by Web In Travel and Phocuswright.   Read More
 alt="Zuzu Hospitality checks in with $9M in funding"  title="Zuzu Hospitality checks in with $9M in funding"
News / Technology
Zuzu Hospitality checks in with $9M in funding
By Linda Fox | May 25, 2023
The round for the Singapore-based company was led by SoftBank Ventures Asia with Atinum Partners and existing investors Wooshin Venture Investment, Visor Ventures and JG Digital Equity Ventures also... Read More
 alt="JPMorgan Chase using travel playbook to build lifestyle product"  title="JPMorgan Chase using travel playbook to build lifestyle product"
News / Online
JPMorgan Chase using travel playbook to build lifestyle product
By Linda Fox | May 24, 2023
The bank, which launched ChaseTravel.com last year, said travel sales volume was about $8 billion in 2022 and estimated it will be $10 billion this year. Read More
 alt="India-based bus platform Chalo raises $57M"  title="India-based bus platform Chalo raises $57M"
News / Startups
India-based bus platform Chalo raises $57M
By Derek Catron | May 23, 2023
The company, which offers live bus tracking services and contactless payment solutions, plans to use the funds to further its tech stack and power expansion in Indian and other countries.   Read More
 alt="Travel insurance startup Faye raises $10M"  title="Travel insurance startup Faye raises $10M"
News / Startups
Travel insurance startup Faye raises $10M
By Derek Catron | May 23, 2023
The funding round was led by Munich Re Ventures along with existing investors Viola Ventures and F2 Venture Capital. Read More
 alt="Rise in mishandled baggage spotlights need for automation, study finds"  title="Rise in mishandled baggage spotlights need for automation, study finds"
News / Technology
Rise in mishandled baggage spotlights need for automation, study finds
By Kathryn Walson | May 17, 2023
After more than a decade of declining rates, the incidence of mishandled bags shot up by 75% last year as airlines and airports grappled with a surge in passengers. Read More
 alt="Hotel Manager lands £2.2M to grow team, enhance platform"  title="Hotel Manager lands £2.2M to grow team, enhance platform"
News / Startups
Hotel Manager lands £2.2M to grow team, enhance platform
By Kathryn Walson | May 16, 2023
The London-based startup said the capital enables it to “fuel aggressive growth and build upon its multi-award winning product.” Read More
 alt="Travel tech founders consider effects of bank failures"  title="Travel tech founders consider effects of bank failures"
News / Online
Travel tech founders consider effects of bank failures
By Kathryn Walson | May 16, 2023
Travel tech CEOs offer advice to founders as a string of recent bank failures in the U.S. has raised concerns about funding for travel startups. Read More
 alt="Blackstone to sell interest in travel tech’s IBS Software"  title="Blackstone to sell interest in travel tech’s IBS Software"
News / Technology
Blackstone to sell interest in travel tech’s IBS Software
By Derek Catron | May 16, 2023
The private equity giant invested $170 million for a minority stake in IBS Software in 2015. It’s agreed to sell its interests to Apax Partners for about $450 million.   Read More
 alt="Mondee acquires Consolid and Interep to strengthen position in Latin America"  title="Mondee acquires Consolid and Interep to strengthen position in Latin America"
News / Online
Mondee acquires Consolid and Interep to strengthen position in Latin America
By Kathryn Walson | May 16, 2023
Travel marketplace and tech platform Mondee went public last summer under the ticker symbol MOND. Read More