Experiences distribution platform Holibob has launched a free developer toolkit to embed ready-made, bookable experiences storefronts.
The toolkit, Holibob SDK, is now live in sandbox.
Previously, partners had the choice of using Holibob's existing options for storefronts, widgets and portals or building their own integration with Holibob's API. The SDK offers a third option, with Holibob stating that the toolkit cuts engineering time to build from roughly six months to as few as three days.
"Every travel brand we talk to already agrees the opportunity is real. What's stopped most of them acting on it is a six-month line on an engineering roadmap that never quite makes the cut," said Craig Everett, CEO and co-founder of Holibob.
"The SDK removes that line entirely. A developer can have a real, working storefront running before the next roadmap review, and the business can see and test the whole thing before a single commercial conversation happens. This is the product that finally makes the experiences opportunity a build decision instead of a budget one, and for most brands, it was never demand that was missing. It was the build."
Once downloaded and configured, the toolkit creates a storefront that connects to Holibob's live catalog with search, results and product pages, as well as checkout. According to Holibob, its catalog includes over 500,000 live bookable tours, attractions, live events and dining.
The storefront runs in test mode initially, without contacting tour operators or taking payments. The same setup is then used if a partner decides to go live once they sign a commercial agreement with Holibob.
Holibob, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Startup for 2023, also launched an artificial intelligence-powered booking platform in June. The interface allows travelers to enter prompts describing a trip, with Holibob then recommending options from its experiences catalog.
In 2024, the company added an undisclosed amount to its Series A through an investment from Guinness Ventures. Holibob originally raised $12 million in Series A funding in 2022.