Airbnb Passed, Expedia Pounced: Inside Tiqets’ Long Road to a Sale: Scoop

Key Points

• Tiqets underwent a lengthy sales process, with Barclays advising, before being acquired by Expedia after Airbnb declined to buy.
• Financial pressures, including a recent loan and the need for a buyer, influenced the urgency and scope of the deal.
• Expedia's acquisition of Tiqets strengthens its direct access to European attractions and enhances its B2B offerings, but Tiqets’ limited proprietary technology kept the deal's value in check.

Summary

Tiqets, an Amsterdam-based platform for museum and attraction tickets, was acquired by Expedia after a prolonged sales process during which Airbnb, an existing investor, opted not to buy the company. Financial pressures, including a recent loan and the need for a buyer, drove the urgency to close a deal. Expedia’s acquisition gives it better direct access to major European attractions and bolsters its B2B capabilities, but Tiqets’ limited proprietary technology and competition from larger rivals kept the deal’s value relatively modest.