Startups

Bilt lets users earn points for rent payments and exchange them for travel, and it's growing fast.

These startups are modernizing tour packages, timeshares, and tipping with digital products.

Niche vacation rental platforms are still raising money, just not quite as often as during pandemic times.

Five travel startups announced fundraises over the past week totaling more than $70 million.

Travel startups raised roughly $2.8 billion during the first half of 2024. They had raised only $1.3 billion during the same period in 2023.

There was a lot of variety in this group of startups: flying taxis, skiing tours, renewable jet fuel, loyalty, pest control, luggage, and a new travel media brand.

What does it take to get passengers to click that airline "book" button? Fetcherr claims its AI-infused tech is helping airlines get better at it.

Travel venture capital hit a decade low of $2.9 billion in 2023, but early 2024 signals a rebound with increased investments from Asia and the Middle East and a focus on experiences and AI.

Lighthouse, the travel startup formerly known as OTA Insight, has bought Berlin-based HQ revenue. The deal marks another step in Lighthouse's strategy of expanding through talent and technology acquisition rather than accumulating customer lists.

Bookings are now open for the first publicly available international electric flights in Europe — but the trips come with a few pre-departure caveats.