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Overview
Despegar.com operates as a travel booking platform in Latin America, letting travelers find and reserve flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel services. Users search across multiple providers on Despegar’s site, compare options, and complete bookings directly, with the company earning commissions from suppliers for each transaction and additional revenue from advertising and related services. The platform differentiates itself through its regional focus on Latin America, a wide catalog of travel products from various providers, and its business model that relies on commission revenue and ads rather than owning all inventory. Despegar’s goal is to streamline how travelers in the region discover and book travel, expanding its market share in Latin America’s online travel market.
About Despegar
Industries
Consumer Software
Enterprise Software
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Founded
1999
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Plans triple business by 2027 via $100M annual Brazil expansion investments.
- Revenue grew 16.73% to $756.3M in last twelve months through Q2 2024.
- Topsort partnership introduces AI retail media boosting advertising revenue.
What critics are saying
- Prosus cost-cutting post-May 2025 acquisition forces talent exodus to Booking.com.
- CADE antitrust scrutiny from CVC bid rejection imposes fines and divestitures.
- Monteverde class action lawsuit drains $50M+ in legal fees distracting management.
What makes Despegar unique
- Despegar leads Latin America as top online travel platform since 1999.
- Decolar Brazil affiliate eliminates travel agent queues with digital booking.
- Prosus acquisition enables AI-driven tech investments for personalized journeys.
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Funding
Total Funding
$2.6B
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
8 Rounds
Tiger Global
Insight Partners
AccelBenefits
Remote Work Options
Stock Price
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 0%Topsort expands into travel media with Despegar partnership, bringing ai-powered Retail Media Infrastructure to the sector.
Maples and Calder advised Prosus on its $1.7 billion acquisition of Despegar, a leading Latin American online travel agency. The transaction, completed on May 15, 2025, involved delisting Despegar from the NYSE through a BVI statutory merger, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Prosus. Ruairi Bourke and Elliott Ruffle provided BVI counsel, collaborating with Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. This deal highlights the team's expertise in high-value M&A in Latin America.
Prosus N.V. has completed its acquisition of Despegar, Latin America's leading online travel agency, for $19.50 per share. This acquisition, approved by Despegar's board and shareholders, enhances Prosus's strategy to expand its digital lifestyle ecosystem in Latin America. The deal leverages Prosus's assets like iFood and OLX Brazil to create new revenue streams and improve customer convenience. Despegar will benefit from Prosus's scale and AI expertise to drive growth and innovation.
Despegar, the Argentine travel unicorn, has been acquired by global investment group Prosus for approximately $1.7 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance Despegar's market leadership and expand its services in Latin America. Once completed, Despegar will become a private company, delisting from the New York Stock Exchange. Prosus plans to create synergies with its other regional businesses, leveraging its extensive resources and expertise in technology and AI.
Franklin Resources Inc. invests $395,000 in Despegar.com, Corp. (NYSE:DESP).
Despegar is Hiring for 2 Jobs on Simplify!
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About Despegar
Industries
Consumer Software
Enterprise Software
Company Size
5,001-10,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Founded
1999
Despegar is Hiring for 2 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today