Online travel company Luxury Escapes has acquired the mobile concierge technology of Porter & Sail.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed and the acquisition does not include Hotel Credits, a product enabling consumers to buy discounted hotel credits without fixing a travel date.
As part of the technology acquisition, Caitlin Zaino von During, Porter & Sail’s co-founder and CEO, is joining Australia-based Luxury Escapes as general manager of guest experience.
She will focus on using technology to improve the in-travel experience.
The acquisition will enable Luxury Escapes customers to use the app for room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout and in-hotel services.
Zaino von During says: “Bringing Porter & Sail’s guest technology to the group offers a unique opportunity to proliferate our innovative platform to millions of members and leading hotels, worldwide.”
Adam Schwab, co-founder at Luxury Escapes, adds: “Making in-travel experiences seamless and easy is incredibly important. The ability to make bookings and purchase valuable add-ons like room upgrades, day trips, dining and spa bookings will ensure that Luxury Escapes creates the best experience for all our members.”
Porter & Sail was founded in 2015 as a digital concierge app. It announced the acquisition of mobile engagement service GuestDriven in 2017.
The Hotel Credits business was set up in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, so that guests could purchase a voucher to use for a future stay.
The business will now undergo a rebrand and name change and relaunch in the coming months.
* Check out this interview with Zaino von During, recorded for the How I Got Here podcast in July 2020.