Friday, June 27, 2025

TWAI, a leader in travel technology headquartered in the United States, has made a significant move in the global travel market by acquiring Travello, an innovative social travel platform based in Australia. This acquisition, announced on June 26, 2025, is a major milestone for TWAI, as it enters the $200 billion tours and activities sector, aiming to become a dominant force in the experiential travel industry. With operations already spanning India, Asia, and Australia, TWAI’s acquisition of Travello expands its influence in the fast-growing global travel technology market.

Founded in Australia, Travello has earned a reputation for its powerful social commerce platform, designed to connect travelers through shared experiences. This unique approach has garnered a loyal following of over 1.2 million travelers across 180 countries. Travello’s multi-layered platform includes a globally recognized social travel app, an extensive marketplace for curated tours and activities, and a white-label B2B engine used by online travel agencies (OTAs), destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and affiliates worldwide. The platform integrates seamlessly with leading reservation systems like Rezdy and FareHarbor, making it a key player in the global travel ecosystem.

With a catalog of over 40,000 tours and activities across six continents, Travello combines the power of social networking with e-commerce. It encourages travelers to engage with one another, share content, discover local deals, and participate in meetups. This combination of community, commerce, and rewards sets Travello apart from other platforms, positioning it as a leader in the booming trend of social commerce within the travel industry.

According to Moondeep Aggarwal, Co-Founder and COO of TWAI, entering the tours and activities market has long been a key strategic goal. “Travello brings a top-tier community, proven demand, and robust distribution infrastructure—all of which perfectly align with our vision to become a global travel technology powerhouse,” Aggarwal said. The acquisition enables TWAI to expand its B2C and B2B distribution capabilities, creating new opportunities for airlines, OTAs, loyalty programs, and tour providers.

Ryan Hanly, CEO and Founder of Travello, expressed his excitement about the partnership, emphasizing that TWAI’s global infrastructure will help scale Travello’s marketplace and social commerce capabilities. Hanly noted that the collaboration will bring Travello’s platform to a wider audience while maintaining its core focus on community-driven travel experiences. The combination of Travello’s community-based model and TWAI’s powerful distribution technology is expected to enhance the overall traveler experience.

What truly sets Travello apart in the competitive travel tech space is its social-first approach. Built around the idea that travel is better when shared, the Travello app allows users to connect with fellow travelers, discover local experiences, and share content. One of the platform’s standout features is its rewards program, which enables users to earn and redeem rewards within the platform. This feature has been particularly popular with Travello’s global user base, which spans 180 countries.

The platform’s social commerce model has proven successful, allowing users to engage in real-world meetups, discover new travel experiences, and make bookings—all while earning loyalty rewards. This innovative approach has helped Travello consistently rank among the top 10 travel apps in over 70 countries, showing the platform’s global reach and appeal.

As part of the acquisition, TWAI plans to integrate Travello’s booking infrastructure into its existing suite of APIs and payment orchestration platforms. This will provide a seamless solution for airlines, OTAs, and loyalty programs, enabling them to offer curated experiences to their customers. With Travello’s proven ability to engage travelers and provide personalized offers, TWAI is set to unlock new monetization channels across the global travel experience economy.

Josh Wicks, COO of Travello, highlighted the opportunities for expanding TWAI’s B2B travel solutions in the Australian and New Zealand markets. With a strong presence in these regions, Travello’s ability to build partnerships with industry leaders is expected to drive further growth. The integration of TWAI’s global infrastructure with Travello’s local expertise will create exciting opportunities for travel businesses in the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of the acquisition, TWAI also gains access to Backpacker Deals, a well-known travel brand that focuses on affordable, authentic adventures in Australia and New Zealand. This platform, which caters to independent travelers and domestic explorers, will complement Travello’s broader offerings by providing more localized experiences. With a focus on regional culture and values, Backpacker Deals serves as a bridge to introduce more tailored experiences for travelers in these markets.

Together, Travello and Backpacker Deals offer a unique blend of social commerce and transaction-driven platforms. This combination is expected to strengthen TWAI’s position in the global travel tech market, enabling the company to provide richer cross-sell opportunities, enhanced traveler personalization, and more seamless integrations for businesses.

The acquisition of Travello marks a significant step forward in TWAI’s growth strategy. It strengthens the company’s position as a leader in both B2C and B2B travel technology, enhancing its global distribution network and diversifying its portfolio. With a combined focus on experiential travel and social commerce, TWAI is poised to capitalize on the growing demand for personalized and community-driven travel experiences.

In the coming months, TWAI and Travello plan to launch joint solutions that will bring curated experiences to airlines, OTAs, and loyalty platforms worldwide. The partnership will introduce enhanced personalization features, expanded reseller APIs, and new business models in pilot markets including Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Southeast Asia. With these developments, TWAI is set to redefine the future of global travel technology and experiences.

(Source: TWAI, Travello, Australian Government, U.S. Travel Association)

«Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us»