Jump to content

HotelOnline: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Bots
3,695,952 edits
m Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 25 templates: del empty params (5×); del |url-status= (2×); cvt lang vals (2×);
ANairobian (talk | contribs)
116 edits
Shortdesc
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(48 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|UAE traveltech company}}
{{short description|Kenyan traveltech company}}{{Infobox company
⚫
| name = HotelOnline
{{Multiple issues|
⚫
| logo = HotelOnline Logo.png
{{Orphan|date=September 2018}}
⚫
| logo_size = 250px
{{notability|Companies|date=March 2018}}
⚫
| logo_caption =
{{POV|date=June 2019}}
⚫
| founders = Endre Opdal, [[Håvar Bauck]]
⚫
| industry = [[travel technology]]
⚫
| services = E-commerce, digital marketing, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
⚫
| revenue = {{increase}} [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]23 million <small>(expected 2019)</small><ref name="finansavisen3">{{Cite news|title=Putter penger i afrikansk hotellbooking|last=Charlesen|first=Henrik|date=8 July 2019|work=[[Finansavisen]]|pages=18–19}}</ref>
⚫
| num_employees = 42 <small>(January 2017)</small><ref name="linkedin">{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelonline|title=HotelOnline LinkedIn page|website=[[LinkedIn]]|date=May 2022 }}</ref>
| parent = Hotel Online Holding Pte. Ltd
⚫
| homepage = https://www.hotelonline.co
⚫
| hq_location = [[Nairobi]]
⚫
| founded = 2014
}}
}}
⚫
'''HotelOnline''' is a [[travel technology]] company, offering a suite of digital tools for e-commerce, online marketing and operations automation to the [[hotel]] industry in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]. The company helps hotels digitize operations and offers managed distribution to online channels, such as [[Online travel agency|Online Travel Agents (OTAs)]], [[Global Distribution System]]s, and [[metasearch engines]].
{{Infobox company
⚫
| logo = HotelOnline Logo.png
⚫
| logo_size = 250px
⚫
| logo_caption = HotelOnline Logo
| former_name = Savanna Sunrise
⚫
| trade_name = HotelOnline
⚫
| founders = Endre Opdal, Håvar Bauck
⚫
| industry = [[travel technology]]
⚫
| services = E-commerce, digital marketing, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
⚫
| revenue = {{increase}} [[Norwegian krone|NOK]]23 million <small>(expected 2019)</small><ref name="finansavisen3">{{Cite news|title=Putter penger i afrikansk hotellbooking|last=Charlesen|first=Henrik|date=8 July 2019|work=[[Finansavisen]]|pages=18–19}}</ref>
⚫
| num_employees = 42 <small>(January 2017)</small><ref name="linkedin">{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelonline|title=HotelOnline LinkedIn page|website=[[LinkedIn]]}}</ref>
⚫
| homepage = https://www.hotelonline.co
⚫
| hq_location = [[Dubai]]
⚫
| founded = 2014
}}
⚫
'''HotelOnline''' is a [[travel technology]] company, offering a suite of digital tools for e-commerce, online marketing and operations automation to the [[hotel]] industry in [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]. The company helps hotels digitize operations and offers managed distribution to online channels, such as [[Online travel agency|Online Travel Agents (OTAs)]], [[Global Distribution System]]s, and [[metasearch engines]]. HotelOnline partners with [[Expedia]], [[Booking.com]], Hotelbeds, [[Airbnb]] and [[Ctrip]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Wakoba|first=Sam|date=2018-09-27|title=HotelOnline signs up over 1500 hotels across 17 markets in Africa, Europe & South Asia|url=https://techmoran.com/hotelonline-signs-up-over-1500-hotels-across-17-markets-in-africa-europe-south-asia/|location=Nairobi}}</ref>

The company is incorporated in [[Dubai]], with offices in [[Nairobi]], [[Lagos]], [[Kampala]], [[Dakar]] and [[Oslo]].


== Background ==
== Background ==
HotelOnline was founded as Savanna Sunrise Ltd.<ref>{{cite news|last=Southwood|first=Russell|title=Savanna Sunrise opens up global online hotel bookings in East Africa|newspaper=Balancing Act Africa|url=https://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/telecoms-en/36782/savannasunrise-opens-up-global-online-hotel-booking-in-east-africa-b2c-processes-drive-digital-take-up-and-data-use|location=[[London]]|date=2016-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Charlesen|first=Henrik|title=Nordmenn er ledende på hotellbooking i Afrika|pages=front, 31, 32|newspaper=[[Finansavisen]]|language=no|location=[[Oslo]]|url=https://finansavisen.no/news/4256/242/Nordmenn-er-ledende-p%C3%A5-hotellbooking-i-Afrika|date=2017-03-06}}</ref> in Dubai in 2014, by Endre Opdal and Håvar Bauck,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Changarampatt|first=Manoj|newspaper=Techweez|location=Nairobi|date=2017-12-06|title=Founder Havar Bauck, on Building HotelOnline to Become a Hotel Booking Stalwart|url=http://techweez.com/2017/12/06/havar-bauck-hotelonline/}}</ref> to facilitate e-commerce and online marketing for hotels in Eastern Africa. After growing rapidly in [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]] and [[Rwanda]],<ref name="theexchange">{{cite news|last=Chege|first=Kimani|title=How two Norwegians turned Kenyan built a global traveltech success from five apartments in Syokimau|newspaper=The Exchange|url=https://theexchange.africa/hotelonline-conquers-africa-from-kenya/|location=[[Dar es Salaam]]|date=2019-04-25}}</ref> in 2015 and 2016, Savanna Sunrise acquired Hotel Online Sp. z.o.o.<ref name="ventureburn">{{cite news|last=Timm|first=Stephen|newspaper=[[Memeburn|Ventureburn]]|location=[[Johannesburg]]|date=2019-07-11|title=Norwegian Håvar Bauck’s Kenyan startup HotelOnline announces it’s raised $320k|url=https://ventureburn.com/2019/07/norwegian-havar-baucks-hotelonline-320k/}}</ref><ref name="traveldailynews">{{cite news|last=Koumelis|first=Theodore|newspaper=Travel Daily News|location=[[Cyprus]]|date=2017-06-17|title=Local go Global – African Hotels Equipped with a New Business Engine|url=https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/local-go-global-african-hotels-equipped-with-a-new-business-engine}}</ref> in Poland in 2017 after the initial collapse of the much-publicized three-way merger talks<ref>{{cite news | last=May | first=Kevin | title=HotelOga and Savanna Sunrise merge, plot travel tech domination in Africa | work=[[Phocuswire]] | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/HotelOga-and-Savanna-Sunrise-merge-plot-travel-tech-domination-in-Africa | date=February 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name="businessinsider">{{cite news |last=Tubei|first=George|title=HotelOga and Savana Sunrise merge together to take on the world|newspaper=[[Business Insider|Pulse Live by Business Insider]]|url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/bi/strategy/merger-and-acquisitions-exclusive-hoteloga-and-savana-sunrise-merge-together-to-take/pffc6x8|location=[[Nairobi]]|date=2017-02-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Southwood|first=Russell|title=Combining to Create Scale – Kenya's Savanna Sunrise Merges With Nigeria's Hoteloga|newspaper=[[AllAfrica]]|location=London|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201703300364.html|date=2017-03-01}}</ref> that also included Hospitality Technology Solutions Ltd (t/a "HotelOga")<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.benjamindada.com/hotelonlines-management-speaks-up-on-mareks-involvement-with-the-company/|last=Dada|first=Benjamin|title=HotelOnline management clears the air about Marek's involvement with the company|newspaper=Benjamindada.com|location=Lagos|date=2019-02-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Southwood|first=Russell|title=Travel Tech Start-Up Hotelonline's Co-Founder Havar Bauck On a Merger That Almost Went Wrong|newspaper=[[Allafrica.com]]|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201804200237.html|location=[[London]]|date=2018-04-01}}</ref> in Nigeria. The new group rebranded to HotelOnline later in 2017,<ref name="ventureburn" /> and launched their own Nigerian operation.<ref>{{Citation|last=Adepoju|first=Paul|newspaper=Innovation Village|location=Lagos|date=2017-06-15|title=HotelOnline announces merger, appoints former Jovago head as Nigeria country manager|url=http://innovation-village.com/hotelonline-announces-merger-appoints-former-jovago-head-nigerias-country-manager/}}</ref>
HotelOnline was founded in 2014, by Endre Opdal and [[Håvar Bauck]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Changarampatt|first=Manoj|newspaper=Techweez|location=Nairobi|date=2017-12-06|title=Founder Havar Bauck, on Building HotelOnline to Become a Hotel Booking Stalwart|url=http://techweez.com/2017/12/06/havar-bauck-hotelonline/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Charlesen |first=Henrik |date=2017-03-06 |title=Nordmenn er ledende på hotellbooking i Afrika |url=https://finansavisen.no/news/4256/242/Nordmenn-er-ledende-p%C3%A5-hotellbooking-i-Afrika |newspaper=[[Finansavisen]] |location=[[Oslo]] |pages=front, 31, 32 |language=no}}</ref> to facilitate e-commerce and online marketing for hotels in Eastern Africa. Initially operating as Savanna Sunrise, the company grew rapidly in [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]] and [[Rwanda]] in 2015 and 2016.<ref name="theexchange">{{cite news |last=Chege |first=Kimani |date=2019-04-25 |title=How two Norwegians turned Kenyan built a global traveltech success from five apartments in Syokimau |url=https://theexchange.africa/hotelonline-conquers-africa-from-kenya/ |newspaper=The Exchange |location=[[Dar es Salaam]]}}</ref><ref name="ventureburn">{{cite news|last=Timm|first=Stephen|newspaper=[[Memeburn|Ventureburn]]|location=[[Johannesburg]]|date=2019-07-11|title=Norwegian Håvar Bauck's Kenyan startup HotelOnline announces it's raised $320k|url=https://ventureburn.com/2019/07/norwegian-havar-baucks-hotelonline-320k/}}</ref> After merging with a [[Poland|Polish]] competitor in 2017, the company rebranded to HotelOnline and expanded operations to [[Nigeria]].<ref name="businessinsider">{{cite news |last=Tubei|first=George|title=HotelOga and Savana Sunrise merge together to take on the world|newspaper=[[Business Insider|Pulse Live by Business Insider]]|url=https://www.pulselive.co.ke/bi/strategy/merger-and-acquisitions-exclusive-hoteloga-and-savana-sunrise-merge-together-to-take/pffc6x8|location=[[Nairobi]]|date=2017-02-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Southwood|first=Russell|title=Combining to Create Scale – Kenya's Savanna Sunrise Merges With Nigeria's Hoteloga|newspaper=[[AllAfrica]]|location=London|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201703300364.html|date=2017-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Southwood|first=Russell|title=Travel Tech Start-Up Hotelonline's Co-Founder Havar Bauck On a Merger That Almost Went Wrong|newspaper=[[Allafrica.com]]|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201804200237.html|location=[[London]]|date=2018-04-01}}</ref><ref name="ventureburn" /><ref>{{Citation|last=Adepoju|first=Paul|newspaper=Innovation Village|location=Lagos|date=2017-06-15|title=HotelOnline announces merger, appoints former Jovago head as Nigeria country manager|url=http://innovation-village.com/hotelonline-announces-merger-appoints-former-jovago-head-nigerias-country-manager/}}</ref> Later in 2017, HotelOnline raised USD 250,000 in an [[equity crowdfunding]], becoming the first known case of an African company successfully using this funding method.<ref name="businessday">{{cite news|last=Nwanekwu|first=Lucky|title=Nigerian investors join Shroff for a stake in HotelOnline|newspaper=[[Business Day (Nigeria)|BusinessDay]]|url=https://businessday.ng/lead-story/article/nigerian-investors-join-shroff-for-a-stake-in-hotelonline/|location=[[Lagos]]|date=2019-07-17}}</ref>


⚫
In May 2018, HotelOnline acquired<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=TechMoran|location=Nairobi|date=2018-05-15|title=HotelOnline acquires Senegalese Teranga Solutions to bolster its hotel booking business in Africa|url=https://techmoran.com/hotelonline-acquires-senegalese-teranga-solutions-to-bolster-its-hotel-booking-business-in-africa/}}</ref> [[Senegal]]ese travel technology company Teranga Solutions as part of their expansion into francophone Western Africa. The company at the same time also acquired European Travel Group AS.<ref>{{cite news|last=Charlesen|first=Henrik|title=Tar norsk reiselivsteknologi til Afrika|pages=front, 31, 32|newspaper=[[Finansavisen]]|language=no|location=Oslo|date=2018-05-07}}</ref>
Later in 2017, HotelOnline raised USD 200,000 in an [[equity crowdfunding]], the first known case of an African technology startup successfully using this funding method.<ref name="businessday">{{cite news|last=Nwanekwu|first=Lucky|title=Nigerian investors join Shroff for a stake in HotelOnline|newspaper=[[Business Day (Nigeria)|BusinessDay]]|url=https://businessday.ng/lead-story/article/nigerian-investors-join-shroff-for-a-stake-in-hotelonline/|location=[[Lagos]]|date=2019-07-17}}</ref>

⚫
In May 2018, HotelOnline acquired<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=TechMoran|location=Nairobi|date=2018-05-15|title=HotelOnline acquires Senegalese Teranga Solutions to bolster its hotel booking business in Africa|url=https://techmoran.com/hotelonline-acquires-senegalese-teranga-solutions-to-bolster-its-hotel-booking-business-in-africa/}}</ref> [[Senegal]]ese travel technology company Teranga Solutions as part of their expansion into francophone Western Africa. The company at the same time also acquired European Travel Group AS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/cityhotels|title=Cityhotels.com|publisher=[[Crunchbase]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Charlesen|first=Henrik|title=Tar norsk reiselivsteknologi til Afrika|pages=front, 31, 32|newspaper=[[Finansavisen]]|language=no|location=Oslo|date=2018-05-07}}</ref>


In 2019, prominent startup investor Shravan Shroff invested an undisclosed amount in HotelOnline, and joined their Board of Directors. Shroff is known for his role as the first investor in traveltech [[Unicorn (finance)|unicorn]] [[OYO Rooms]].<ref name="finansavisen3" /><ref name="bw">{{cite news|last=BW Online Bureau|title=Shravan Shroff Joins HotelOnline Board of Directors|newspaper=[[Businessworld]]|url=http://bwhotelier.businessworld.in/article/Shravan-Shroff-Joins-HotelOnline-Board-of-Directors/10-07-2019-173144/|location=[[Delhi]]|date=2019-07-10}}</ref> Trond Riiber-Knudsen, known as Norway's most active startup investor, also co-invested an undisclosed amount.<ref name="bw" />
In 2019, prominent startup investor Shravan Shroff invested an undisclosed amount in HotelOnline, and joined their Board of Directors. Shroff is known for his role as the first investor in traveltech [[Unicorn (finance)|unicorn]] [[OYO Rooms]].<ref name="finansavisen3" /><ref name="bw">{{cite news|last=BW Online Bureau|title=Shravan Shroff Joins HotelOnline Board of Directors|newspaper=[[Businessworld]]|url=http://bwhotelier.businessworld.in/article/Shravan-Shroff-Joins-HotelOnline-Board-of-Directors/10-07-2019-173144/|location=[[Delhi]]|date=2019-07-10}}</ref> Trond Riiber-Knudsen, known as Norway's most active startup investor, also co-invested an undisclosed amount.<ref name="bw" />
Line 35: Line 25:
In September 2019, as part of their expansion into the Nordic market, HotelOnline acquired the Norwegian operations of Key Butler,<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=TechMoran|location=Nairobi|last=Wakoba|first=Sam|date=2019-09-12|title=HotelOnline merges with Key Butler, a Norwegian traveltech startup|url=https://techmoran.com/2019/09/12/hotelonline-to-merge-operations-with-key-butler-a-norwegian-traveltech-startup/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Erichsen|first=Vilde|date=2019-09-10|title=Key Butler slår seg sammen med afrikansk hotellkjempe: Vil kapre utleiemarkedet|newspaper=Shifter.no|url=https://shifter.no/endre-opdal-hotelonline-havar-bauck/key-butler-slar-seg-sammen-med-afrikansk-hotellkjempe-vil-kapre-utleiemarkedet/128379}}</ref> a leading Nordic short term apartment rental company.
In September 2019, as part of their expansion into the Nordic market, HotelOnline acquired the Norwegian operations of Key Butler,<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=TechMoran|location=Nairobi|last=Wakoba|first=Sam|date=2019-09-12|title=HotelOnline merges with Key Butler, a Norwegian traveltech startup|url=https://techmoran.com/2019/09/12/hotelonline-to-merge-operations-with-key-butler-a-norwegian-traveltech-startup/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Erichsen|first=Vilde|date=2019-09-10|title=Key Butler slår seg sammen med afrikansk hotellkjempe: Vil kapre utleiemarkedet|newspaper=Shifter.no|url=https://shifter.no/endre-opdal-hotelonline-havar-bauck/key-butler-slar-seg-sammen-med-afrikansk-hotellkjempe-vil-kapre-utleiemarkedet/128379}}</ref> a leading Nordic short term apartment rental company.


In 2020, HotelOnline acquired former competitor Africabookings, and the Cloud9 Lifestyle app.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|newspaper=[[Quartz_(publication)|Quartz]]|last=Kazeem|first=Yomi|title=African tech startups are beating the pandemic’s odds and racking up multimillion-dollar exits|url=https://qz.com/africa/1900912/african-startup-investor-exits-led-by-fintech-in-pandemic/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=The Exchange|date=2020-07-01|title=Kenyan travel-tech HotelOnline on major onslaught of the African market|url=https://theexchange.africa/investing/kenyan-travel-tech-hotelonline-on-major-onslaught-of-the-african-market/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|newspaper=Disrupt Africa|date=2020-07-10|title=Zimbabwe’s Africabookings is HotelOnline’s second acquisition in a month|url=https://disrupt-africa.com/2020/07/zimbabwes-africabookings-is-hotelonlines-second-acquisition-in-a-month/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-GB}}</ref> This received some notable attention, as HotelOnline was seen as going against the stream when most of the travel industry in Africa was in a crisis.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
In 2020, HotelOnline acquired former competitor Africabookings, and the Cloud9 Lifestyle app.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|newspaper=[[Quartz_(publication)|Quartz]]|last=Kazeem|first=Yomi|title=African tech startups are beating the pandemic's odds and racking up multimillion-dollar exits|url=https://qz.com/africa/1900912/african-startup-investor-exits-led-by-fintech-in-pandemic/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=The Exchange|date=2020-07-01|title=Kenyan travel-tech HotelOnline on major onslaught of the African market|url=https://theexchange.africa/investing/kenyan-travel-tech-hotelonline-on-major-onslaught-of-the-african-market/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|newspaper=Disrupt Africa|date=2020-07-10|title=Zimbabwe's Africabookings is HotelOnline's second acquisition in a month|url=https://disrupt-africa.com/2020/07/zimbabwes-africabookings-is-hotelonlines-second-acquisition-in-a-month/|access-date=2020-11-24|language=en-GB}}</ref> This received some notable attention, as HotelOnline was seen as going against the stream when most of the travel industry in Africa was in a crisis.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

In April 2022, Yanolja, a [[South Korea|South Korean]] travel technology firm backed by [[SoftBank Group|Softbank]] and [[Booking.com]] announced their [[investment]] of an undisclosed amount in HotelOnline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chege |first=Kimani |date=2022-04-21 |title=South Korean unicorn Yanolja invests big in Kenya traveltech HotelOnline |url=https://theexchange.africa/money-deals/south-korean-unicorn-yanolja-invests-big-in-kenya-traveltech-hotelonline/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=The Exchange |language=en-US}}</ref> Later, in September 2022, HotelOnline announced the USD 1.9 million acquisition of Kenyan competitor HotelPlus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Njanja |first=Annie |date=2022-09-12 |title=Kenya's HotelOnline acquires hospitality software company HotelPlus |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/12/kenyas-hotelonline-acquires-hospitality-software-company-hotelplus/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HotelOnline acquires HotelPlus to accelerate expansion across Africa |url=https://www.phocuswire.com/hotelonline-acquires-hotelplus-accelerate-expansion-africa |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=www.phocuswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=O'Neill |first1=Sean |last2=September 12th |first2=Skift |last3=EDT |first3=2022 at 3:49 PM |title=Kenya's HotelOnline, Backed by Yanolja, Buys Hotel Software Brand HotelPlus |url=https://skift.com/blog/kenyas-hotelonline-backed-by-yanolja-buys-hotel-software-brand-hotelplus/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=[[Skift]] |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Technology ==
== Technology ==
HotelOnline provides a cloud-based suite of tools for automated online distribution and hotel operations, reservations management and AI-driven dynamic pricing.
HotelOnline provides a cloud-based suite of tools for automated online distribution and hotel operations, reservations management and AI-driven dynamic pricing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solutions – HotelOnline |url=https://hotelonline.co/solutions/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Presence ==
HotelOnline has offices in Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar and Oslo. In 2019 the company announced that it had a client portfolio of more than 1500 hotels in 18 markets.<ref name="ventureburn" /> With the Africabookings acquisition in 2020, the company claimed to have increased this portfolio by 5000 properties<ref name=":1" /> around Africa.


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

⚫
[[Category:Technology companies of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Travel and holiday companies of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Travel technology]]
[[Category:Travel technology]]
[[Category:Digital marketing companies]]
[[Category:E-commerce]]
⚫
[[Category:Technology companies of Kenya]]
[[Category:Tourism in Africa]]
[[Category:Hospitality industry in Africa]]

Latest revision as of 05:26, 8 May 2024

HotelOnline
Industrytravel technology
Founded2014
FoundersEndre Opdal, Håvar Bauck
HeadquartersNairobi
ServicesE-commerce, digital marketing, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
RevenueIncrease NOK23 million (expected 2019)[1]
Number of employees
42 (January 2017)[2]
ParentHotel Online Holding Pte. Ltd
Websitehttps://www.hotelonline.co

HotelOnline is a travel technology company, offering a suite of digital tools for e-commerce, online marketing and operations automation to the hotel industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company helps hotels digitize operations and offers managed distribution to online channels, such as Online Travel Agents (OTAs), Global Distribution Systems, and metasearch engines.

Background

[edit]

HotelOnline was founded in 2014, by Endre Opdal and Håvar Bauck,[3][4] to facilitate e-commerce and online marketing for hotels in Eastern Africa. Initially operating as Savanna Sunrise, the company grew rapidly in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in 2015 and 2016.[5][6] After merging with a Polish competitor in 2017, the company rebranded to HotelOnline and expanded operations to Nigeria.[7][8][9][6][10] Later in 2017, HotelOnline raised USD 250,000 in an equity crowdfunding, becoming the first known case of an African company successfully using this funding method.[11]

In May 2018, HotelOnline acquired[12] Senegalese travel technology company Teranga Solutions as part of their expansion into francophone Western Africa. The company at the same time also acquired European Travel Group AS.[13]

In 2019, prominent startup investor Shravan Shroff invested an undisclosed amount in HotelOnline, and joined their Board of Directors. Shroff is known for his role as the first investor in traveltech unicorn OYO Rooms.[1][14] Trond Riiber-Knudsen, known as Norway's most active startup investor, also co-invested an undisclosed amount.[14]

In September 2019, as part of their expansion into the Nordic market, HotelOnline acquired the Norwegian operations of Key Butler,[15][16] a leading Nordic short term apartment rental company.

In 2020, HotelOnline acquired former competitor Africabookings, and the Cloud9 Lifestyle app.[17][18][19] This received some notable attention, as HotelOnline was seen as going against the stream when most of the travel industry in Africa was in a crisis.[17][19]

In April 2022, Yanolja, a South Korean travel technology firm backed by Softbank and Booking.com announced their investment of an undisclosed amount in HotelOnline.[20] Later, in September 2022, HotelOnline announced the USD 1.9 million acquisition of Kenyan competitor HotelPlus.[21][22][23]

Technology

[edit]

HotelOnline provides a cloud-based suite of tools for automated online distribution and hotel operations, reservations management and AI-driven dynamic pricing.[24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Charlesen, Henrik (8 July 2019). "Putter penger i afrikansk hotellbooking". Finansavisen. pp. 18–19.
  2. ^ "HotelOnline LinkedIn page". LinkedIn. May 2022.
  3. ^ Changarampatt, Manoj (2017-12-06). "Founder Havar Bauck, on Building HotelOnline to Become a Hotel Booking Stalwart". Techweez. Nairobi.
  4. ^ Charlesen, Henrik (2017-03-06). "Nordmenn er ledende på hotellbooking i Afrika". Finansavisen (in Norwegian). Oslo. pp. front, 31, 32.
  5. ^ Chege, Kimani (2019-04-25). "How two Norwegians turned Kenyan built a global traveltech success from five apartments in Syokimau". The Exchange. Dar es Salaam.
  6. ^ a b Timm, Stephen (2019-07-11). "Norwegian Håvar Bauck's Kenyan startup HotelOnline announces it's raised $320k". Ventureburn. Johannesburg.
  7. ^ Tubei, George (2017-02-16). "HotelOga and Savana Sunrise merge together to take on the world". Pulse Live by Business Insider. Nairobi.
  8. ^ Southwood, Russell (2017-03-01). "Combining to Create Scale – Kenya's Savanna Sunrise Merges With Nigeria's Hoteloga". AllAfrica. London.
  9. ^ Southwood, Russell (2018-04-01). "Travel Tech Start-Up Hotelonline's Co-Founder Havar Bauck On a Merger That Almost Went Wrong". Allafrica.com. London.
  10. ^ Adepoju, Paul (2017-06-15), "HotelOnline announces merger, appoints former Jovago head as Nigeria country manager", Innovation Village, Lagos
  11. ^ Nwanekwu, Lucky (2019-07-17). "Nigerian investors join Shroff for a stake in HotelOnline". BusinessDay. Lagos.
  12. ^ "HotelOnline acquires Senegalese Teranga Solutions to bolster its hotel booking business in Africa". TechMoran. Nairobi. 2018-05-15.
  13. ^ Charlesen, Henrik (2018-05-07). "Tar norsk reiselivsteknologi til Afrika". Finansavisen (in Norwegian). Oslo. pp. front, 31, 32.
  14. ^ a b BW Online Bureau (2019-07-10). "Shravan Shroff Joins HotelOnline Board of Directors". Businessworld. Delhi.
  15. ^ Wakoba, Sam (2019-09-12). "HotelOnline merges with Key Butler, a Norwegian traveltech startup". TechMoran. Nairobi. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  16. ^ Erichsen, Vilde (2019-09-10). "Key Butler slår seg sammen med afrikansk hotellkjempe: Vil kapre utleiemarkedet". Shifter.no.
  17. ^ a b Kazeem, Yomi. "African tech startups are beating the pandemic's odds and racking up multimillion-dollar exits". Quartz. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  18. ^ "Kenyan travel-tech HotelOnline on major onslaught of the African market". The Exchange. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  19. ^ a b "Zimbabwe's Africabookings is HotelOnline's second acquisition in a month". Disrupt Africa. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  20. ^ Chege, Kimani (2022-04-21). "South Korean unicorn Yanolja invests big in Kenya traveltech HotelOnline". The Exchange. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  21. ^ Njanja, Annie (2022-09-12). "Kenya's HotelOnline acquires hospitality software company HotelPlus". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  22. ^ "HotelOnline acquires HotelPlus to accelerate expansion across Africa". www.phocuswire.com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  23. ^ O'Neill, Sean; September 12th, Skift; EDT, 2022 at 3:49 PM. "Kenya's HotelOnline, Backed by Yanolja, Buys Hotel Software Brand HotelPlus". Skift. Retrieved 2023-10-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Solutions – HotelOnline". Retrieved 2024-03-25.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=HotelOnline&oldid=1222832841"