Expedia Buys CarTrawler to Expand B2B Travel Services

Expedia Group is significantly expanding its business-to-business travel services by acquiring CarTrawler, an Irish-based technology provider specializing in car rental, ground transportation, and travel insurance solutions. This strategic move aims to solidify Expedia's ambition to create the most comprehensive B2B travel platform, integrating a wider array of services beyond its existing lodging and activities offerings.

The acquisition of CarTrawler, which connects over 550 car rental and 500 mobility suppliers with more than 300 travel brands globally, including over 70 airlines, is expected to close in the latter half of 2026. This integration is designed to enhance Expedia's B2B capabilities, providing partners and end-travelers with expanded access to crucial ancillary services. The synergy between CarTrawler's specialized supplier network and Expedia's extensive distribution and technological infrastructure is anticipated to unlock substantial growth opportunities across the travel sector.

This development follows Expedia's prior strategic acquisition of Tiqets, which broadened its portfolio in the activities sector. By incorporating CarTrawler, Expedia is now extending its B2B reach into the vital areas of mobility and travel protection. This multi-faceted approach allows supply partners to tap into Expedia's vast global demand network, while B2B demand partners will benefit from enhanced access to a diverse range of transportation and insurance products, integrated seamlessly into their existing platforms at competitive rates.

The global car rental market, a key focus for CarTrawler, is a significant segment within the broader travel industry. Pre-pandemic, the market was valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars, with ongoing recovery and evolving consumer preferences for flexible mobility solutions. CarTrawler's established relationships with major players like Ryanair, American Airlines, Air France-KLM, Uber, easyJet, eDreams ODIGEO, and American Express underscore its critical role in the travel ecosystem.

Alfonso Paredes, President B2B & Chief Commercial Officer at Expedia Group, highlighted the acquisition as a pivotal step towards their B2B platform vision. He emphasized that extending APIs beyond lodging, as achieved with Tiqets for activities, is now being amplified into car rentals, ground transport, and Insurtech through CarTrawler. This move is set to significantly enhance the value proposition for all stakeholders involved.

Peter O’Donovan, CEO of CarTrawler, expressed enthusiasm for the combination, viewing it as validation of their technological prowess and market innovation. He anticipates that becoming part of Expedia's robust B2B engine will foster new avenues for innovation and expansion, reinforcing CarTrawler's mission within the travel industry.

The integration of CarTrawler's expertise in areas such as travel technology, data science, machine learning, and dynamic pricing, coupled with its offices in Dublin, Paris, London, New York, and Sydney, positions Expedia Group to offer a more holistic and technologically advanced suite of services to its B2B partners. This strategic consolidation is poised to reshape how travel companies access and integrate essential mobility and protection services.