Expedia buys CarTrawler travel platform

Expedia Group said on May 20 that it had agreed to acquire CarTrawler, an Ireland-based travel technology company that supplies car rental, ground transport and Insurtech services to travel partners worldwide. The companies did not disclose terms in their statements. CarTrawler said the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to complete in the second half of 2026. The deal gives Expedia another B2B travel infrastructure asset as it expands beyond hotel distribution into transport and ancillary products. Expedia said the acquisition would enhance its ability to deliver mobility and Insurtech solutions through both its B2B platform and consumer brands. CarTrawler said the combination would expand the reach of its platform across car rental, ground transport and Insurtech. (ir.expediagroup.com) ### What exactly is Expedia buying? CarTrawler describes itself as a B2B technology platform connecting travel companies and customers to car rental and mobility services globally. On its corporate site, the Dublin-based company says it powers car rental and mobility offers for travel-industry partners rather than selling directly as a consumer brand. The May 20 announcements from both companies describe CarTrawler as a platform for car rental, ground transport and Insurtech solutions. (markets.ft.com) That means Expedia is buying software and partner distribution relationships tied to airport transfers, ride services, rental inventory and travel-related protection products that can be embedded into booking flows. That last point is an inference from the companies’ descriptions of CarTrawler’s products and business model. (corporate.cartrawler.com) ### Why does CarTrawler matter inside travel distribution? Expedia Group B2B has been outlining a plan to expand its APIs beyond lodging, and Expedia executive Alfonso Paredes said in CarTrawler’s release that the acquisition was “another huge, exciting step” toward building a broader B2B platform. Expedia’s own investor site lists the CarTrawler announcement alongside a May 20 launch of an AI toolkit and platform for travel distribution, underscoring the company’s focus on partner-facing infrastructure. (corporate.cartrawler.com) CarTrawler’s recent activity also shows why it fits that strategy. On April 1, CarTrawler said it had acquired Insurtech company Koala, adding products such as cancellation and trip disruption cover for travel partners in 17 countries. CarTrawler said at the time that partners were asking it to add those ancillary products to its offering. (corporate.cartrawler.com) ### How does this fit Expedia’s recent dealmaking? Skift reported on May 20 that CarTrawler was Expedia’s second B2B acquisition of 2026, part of a push to strengthen its business-to-business unit. Skift separately reported on May 17 that the deal value was roughly $350 million, citing documents prepared for shareholders, but Expedia and CarTrawler did not include a price in their official statements. (corporate.cartrawler.com) TowerBrook, CarTrawler’s private equity owner, said on May 20 that the company would join Expedia Group in its “next phase of growth.” CarTrawler’s own timeline shows a business built through airline, online travel and mobility partnerships, including launches with Ryanair, Qantas, Virgin Australia and others in recent years. ### What happens next? (skift.com) The companies said the transaction still requires customary closing steps before it can be completed. CarTrawler said those steps are expected to conclude in the second half of 2026, when the business is set to join Expedia Group. (corporate.cartrawler.com) (towerbrook.com)