Travala.com Explores Potential Acquisition Amid Growing Interest
Travala.com, the innovative holiday booking platform that enables users to pay with cryptocurrency, is currently engaged in discussions with prospective buyers following an unsolicited takeover inquiry received late last year. This information comes from two individuals familiar with the situation.
Backed by the prominent crypto exchange Binance, Travala has sparked interest from major online travel agencies, including Booking.com, one of the largest players in the global travel market. According to sources, Booking.com “kicked the tires” on a potential acquisition but ultimately decided to pass on the opportunity after initial discussions.
Despite Booking.com’s decision, talks are ongoing with other potential buyers, although there is no guarantee that a deal will materialize. The company may ultimately opt to maintain its independence, as indicated by the sources, who requested to remain anonymous due to the private nature of the discussions.
When approached for comments, Travala declined to provide any details. However, a spokesperson from Booking.com confirmed that Travala had reached out, noting that a few calls took place to share additional information before deciding not to pursue the acquisition further.
Current estimates suggest that Travala could be valued at over $100 million. The platform reportedly generated more than $100 million in revenue last year, with projections indicating significant growth in 2025.
As a large minority stakeholder, Binance will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of any potential deal, as it holds a seat on Travala’s board. Binance has chosen not to comment on the ongoing discussions.
Founded in 2017 and based in Singapore, Travala is a crypto-native travel platform that features its own loyalty rewards token known as AVA, which currently has a market capitalization of approximately $47 million. However, the token has experienced a decline of 40% this year.
Travala allows travelers to book their holidays using over 100 different cryptocurrencies, in addition to traditional payment methods. Through the AVA Smart Program, customers who make bookings using cryptocurrency can receive rewards of up to 10% back in Bitcoin (BTC) or AVA, along with various discounts and token bonuses.
It is noteworthy that Booking.com is owned by Booking Holdings (BKNG), which is publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange.
