Expedia accelerates its business-to-business expansion with the acquisition of CarTrawler, the Dublin-based car rental booking platform. This marks the online travel agency's second major B2B deal of 2026, following its purchase of Tiqets, an attractions and experiences ticketing platform.
CEO Ariane Gorin, who previously led Expedia's B2B division before taking the top job two years ago, champions this strategic pivot toward corporate travel and rental services. The acquisition signals Expedia's determination to compete beyond leisure bookings and capture the lucrative corporate travel market where car rentals represent a significant revenue stream.
CarTrawler connects travel agencies and travel management companies with thousands of rental car suppliers globally. The platform powers car rental bookings for major travel distributors and corporate travel programs. By acquiring CarTrawler, Expedia gains direct control over a critical component of the B2B travel ecosystem.
The dual acquisitions create immediate integration challenges. Expedia must now absorb CarTrawler's operations while simultaneously integrating Tiqets, which serves the attractions and activities booking space. The company faces the operational complexity of blending different business models, customer bases, and technology platforms into its existing infrastructure.
Gorin's background in B2B operations positions her well to navigate these integrations. She's granted her B2B team the autonomy and budget to pursue expansion opportunities, reflecting confidence in the division's growth potential.
This strategy reflects broader travel industry trends. Corporate travel spending is rebounding strongly post-pandemic, with companies increasingly relying on consolidated booking platforms that handle flights, hotels, ground transportation, and experiences through single vendors. Expedia competes against Amadeus, Sabre, and specialized B2B operators in this space.
For independent travel agencies and corporate travel managers, Expedia's B2B consolidation offers expanded