एआई (AI) की वृद्धि के बावजूद ट्रैवल टेक में निवेश बहु-वर्षीय निचले स्तर की ओर फिसला

While consumer travel demand appears resilient, investor enthusiasm for travel technology startups has cooled significantly. An analysis of Crunchbase figures indicates that even a surge of startups utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance travel has failed to reverse the broader funding slowdown. It remains an open question whether uncertainty over how AI will ultimately transform travel planning and booking contributes to this investor pullback.

According to Crunchbase data, startups within the travel tech sector secured $2.2 billion globally throughout the first three quarters of this year. The leading recipients span diverse categories, including hotel management software, travel booking platforms, alternative accommodations, and corporate events. The broad definition of travel tech also encompasses electric aviation, travel finance, insurance, and consumer hospitality businesses.

The broad trend: Crunchbase numbers show that investors are making significantly fewer bets on travel startups compared to the periods immediately before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. When measuring both capital raised and total deal count, this year is on course to hit the lowest levels recorded since at least 2018.

AI remains a common thread among the largest funding recipients, with many companies deploying the technology to automate hospitality operations, personalize bookings, and streamline trip planning.

The numbers: During the first three quarters of 2026, global travel tech startups secured $2.2 billion across a mere 302 funding rounds, based on Crunchbase figures. This represents a substantial decrease from the $3.7 billion raised during the same period in 2025. Furthermore, deal volume is tracking toward a decline for the third consecutive year, pointing to a market where investors deploy larger sums into a smaller pool of companies.

Funding and transaction volumes remain far below historical norms. By comparison, funding in the sector exceeded $12 billion in 2021—a notable figure given that global travel was heavily restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even prior to the pandemic, funding totals and deal counts were markedly higher, reaching $9.4 billion across 1,277 deals in 2018 and $10.4 billion across 1,190 transactions in 2019.

Skift, a prominent travel industry research firm, acknowledged the funding contraction in a recent newsletter, stating: “Though it’s too early to say whether this is a long-term market movement, it’s a clear sign of the times.”

Notable deals

Interestingly, several of the year’s largest funding rounds involved startups headquartered outside of the United States.

The largest funding recipient through the third quarter was Mews, an Amsterdam-based hospitality software company that secured a $300 million Series D round in January. Led by EQT Growth, the round included participation from Atomico, HarbourVest Partners, Kinnevik, Battery Ventures, and Tiger Global Management. Mews assists hotels in managing reservations, payments, and daily operations, and announced plans to expand its use of AI agents to automate workflows. The financing valued the business at $2.5 billion.

In February, Chinese electric aircraft developer Aerofugia raised approximately $144 million in a funding round led by CITIC Securities, with contributions from New Alliance Capital, Vertex Ventures China, and other investors. Based in Chengdu and backed by automaker Geely, Aerofugia develops electric passenger aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, commonly referred to as flying taxis.

Montreal-based Stay22 secured a $122 million minority growth investment from Summit Partners in February. The startup utilizes AI to assist publishers, content creators, and event organizers in converting audience interest in travel into concrete bookings and affiliate revenue streams.

Kindred, a home-swapping platform, announced an $85 million Series C round led by Index Ventures in February. The San Francisco-based startup manages a members-only network enabling travelers to exchange stays in one another’s residences. The announcement also featured an additional $40 million Series B co-led by New Enterprise Associates and Figma CEO Dylan Field, bringing the total disclosed funding for that day to $125 million.

Paris-based Naboo secured another prominent deal, announcing a $70 million Series B in February led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, alongside participants Notion Capital, Isai, and Ternel. The company leverages AI to assist businesses in sourcing venues, organizing corporate events, and managing related purchasing and payment processes.

एग्जिट

Several travel startups successfully secured buyers in 2026, including entities building AI tools for trip planning and reservation management. In February, Amadeus acquired SkyLink, a corporate travel AI assistant, while Expedia purchased Layla, an AI trip-planning startup, in July. Both transactions highlight a broader trend of established industry players acquiring early-stage companies to bolster their AI capabilities.

Additionally, Expedia finalized its acquisition of Tiqets—a venture-backed booking platform for museums, attractions, and experiences—in February.

On the initial public offering front, one potentially high-profile exit was called off. Klook, a travel experiences platform, withdrew its planned U.S. stock offering in October after having initially filed for it last November.

Nevertheless, the broader downturn in startup funding and the scarcity of sector IPOs have left one major publicly traded player unaffected. Navan, a corporate travel booking and expense management platform, has watched its stock climb nearly 60% this year. Formerly operating as TripActions, the company began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker NAVN in October 2025. Its shares closed at $27 on October 28, representing an increase of about 58% from its December 31 closing price of $17.08. The price also sat roughly 8% above its $25 IPO price, indicating that this year’s gains have largely recovered losses incurred following its initial market debut.

संबंधित क्रंचबेस क्वेरी:

• Funding To Travel-Related Startups

चित्रांकन: डोम गुज़मैन

?अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न

01Why are travel tech startups seeing lower funding despite the rise of AI?

Even though startups are incorporating AI to streamline bookings, automate operations, and personalize travel planning, overall investor appetite has cooled compared to pre-pandemic and post-pandemic peak levels. Lingering market uncertainty regarding how AI will ultimately reshape the industry remains a contributing factor to the broader pullback.

02How much funding have travel tech startups raised globally in 2026?

According to Crunchbase data, startups in the travel tech sector raised $2.2 billion globally across 302 funding rounds through the first three quarters of the year.

03What were some of the largest travel tech funding deals of the year?

Notable transactions include a $300 million Series D for hospitality software firm Mews, a $144 million financing round for electric aircraft developer Aerofugia, a $122 million minority growth investment in Stay22, an $85 million Series C for home-swapping platform Kindred, and a $70 million Series B for corporate event organizer Naboo.

04Which major travel acquisitions occurred recently involving AI startups?

Amadeus acquired corporate travel AI assistant SkyLink, and Expedia acquired AI trip-planning startup Layla. Expedia also completed its acquisition of booking platform Tiqets.