Expedia Group acquires the CarTrawler platform

Expedia Group B2B clearly aims to redefine how companies across all sectors integrate travel services into their customer journey. At its major technology event, Explore 26, the B2B division of the American giant unveiled a revolutionary suite of AI-powered tools, currently in advanced development and scheduled for gradual rollout to select partners in the coming months of 2026.

At the heart of this digital offensive lies the Intelligent Experience Platform, an innovative ecosystem composed of fully modular technological building blocks and AI components, specifically designed to enable banks, airlines, and major retailers to launch customized booking platforms that reflect their brand, while leveraging the power of algorithms and Expedia Group’s massive database.

This ultra-smooth integration will be deployed through next-generation application programming interfaces (APIs), optimized user interfaces, and workflows powered by intelligent virtual agents.

With this large-scale initiative, Expedia Group B2B is demonstrating a clear objective: to drastically reduce development time and the initial financial investments required to design proprietary travel solutions, while structurally equipping its business partners to face a market where consumers will systematically demand predictive, AI-assisted trip planning.

To support this vision of a global and interconnected ecosystem, Expedia Group has also made a major move in the mergers and acquisitions market by finalizing an agreement to acquire CarTrawler, a leading B2B technology platform based in Ireland.

This leader in ground mobility excels at connecting hundreds of car rental, shuttle service, private transfer, and taxi providers with the world’s largest travel brands.

Subject to regulatory approval from competition authorities, this major strategic acquisition is expected to be officially finalized in the second half of 2026.

By integrating CarTrawler’s logistical power into its new AI architecture, Expedia Group is positioning itself as a leader in offering an end-to-end travel experience—from flight to hotel to the last mile of ground transportation—consolidating its leadership over Booking Holdings and confirming that the future of B2B travel lies in automated hyper-personalization and the consolidation of unified technology solutions.