Expedia Group to Acquire CarTrawler in Bid to Become B2B 'One-Stop Shop'
Expedia Group announced an agreement to acquire CarTrawler to expand its B2B offerings, including car rental, ground transportation, and ancillary services. The transaction is expected to close in H2 2026. Expedia also launched an AI toolkit and Intelligent Experience Platform to help partners launch AI-driven travel booking experiences faster. The CarTrawler acquisition follows the Tiqets acquisition and aims to expand Rapid API beyond lodging to flights, cars, activities, and trip protection.
Impact and considerations
The acquisition will strengthen Expedia's competitiveness in B2B travel distribution, offering partners more comprehensive inventory and services, potentially impacting supply chain choices for TMCs.
Key points
- Expedia Group entered an agreement to acquire CarTrawler, expected to close in H2 2026.
- Acquisition aims to expand Rapid API to include flights, cars, activities, and trip protection.
- Expedia launched AI toolkit and Intelligent Experience Platform to accelerate partner AI integration.
- CarTrawler's technology and team called 'the perfect match'.
- Deal follows Tiqets acquisition as part of B2B expansion.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- PhocusWire / Phocuswright
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 20 May 2026, 22:00
- Page published
- 13 Aug 2026, 08:16
- Last updated
- 20 May 2026, 22:00
- Original links
- PhocusWire All News：Expedia Group to acquire CarTrawler in bid to become B2B ‘one-stop shop’ (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 20 May 2026, 22:00