trivago has acquired TripHappy, a US travel start-up that leverages artificial intelligence to highlight relevant location and neighbourhood information during the hotel search and discovery process.
The deal follows the company’s continued efforts to improve the traveller search experience by delivering personalised results through technology and product innovation.
trivago acquired AI start-up tripl in September 2017 and partnered with Silicon Valley incubator Plug & Play this past April.
“We are always looking for innovative ways to solve the hotel search problem, making it easier for travellers to find their ideal accommodation,” said Elie Matta, head of corporate development at trivago.
“The TripHappy team’s long-term vision aligns with our own, and we believe the team’s approach to product innovation will be a great fit.”
Founded in 2015 by Calvin Hawkes, Carl Grafmuller and Ben Granas, TripHappy provides recommendations based on personal preference by analysing location data on more than 25,000 neighbourhoods across 10,000 cities to help travellers identify the best neighbourhood to stay in.
The acquisition will result in TripHappy’s founding team members Hawkes and Grafmuller joining trivago’s hotel search team.
trivago is a leading global hotel search platform focused on reshaping the way travellers search for and compare hotels and alternative accommodations.
Incorporated in 2005 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the platform allows travellers to make informed decisions by personalising their hotel search and providing them access to a deep supply of hotel information and prices.