KAYAK

KAYAK

Travel search engine for flights and hotels

About KAYAK

Simplify's Rating
Why KAYAK is rated
C+
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated C on Growth Potential
Rated C on Rating Differentiation

Industries

Consumer Software

Consumer Goods

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

$237.3M

Headquarters

Stamford, Connecticut

Founded

2004

Overview

KAYAK is a travel search engine that assists users in planning and managing their travel experiences. It provides a platform for searching flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages, catering to individual travelers, families, and business professionals. KAYAK aggregates information from numerous travel sites, allowing users to compare prices and options in one place, making it easier to find the best deals. The company earns revenue through advertising and referral fees when users book services through its platform. KAYAK also offers premium features like fare alerts and price forecasts to enhance user experience. With a user-friendly design and flexible travel options, KAYAK aims to simplify the travel planning process for a global audience.

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • KAYAK predicts a surge in long-haul travel, with Japan as a top destination.
  • Integration with Southwest Airlines may boost user engagement and satisfaction.
  • Growing solo travel trend offers opportunities for personalized travel solutions.

What critics are saying

  • Potential TikTok ban could disrupt KAYAK's digital marketing strategies.
  • Failure to acquire ITA Software limits KAYAK's flight search technology edge.
  • Competitors' adoption of cryptocurrency bookings may pressure KAYAK to innovate.

What makes KAYAK unique

  • KAYAK aggregates data from multiple travel sites, offering comprehensive price comparisons.
  • KAYAK's integration with Southwest Airlines enhances its flight search capabilities.
  • KAYAK for Business offers blockchain-based payment solutions, streamlining corporate expense management.

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Funding

Total Funding

$237.3M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

6 Rounds

Notable Investors:
Acquisition funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Acquisition Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Wellness

Social Life

Education

Flexible Hours and Happier Days

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
PhocusWire
Jan 16th, 2025
With U.S. Tiktok Ban Looming, How Could Travel Brands Be Impacted?

TikTok may go dark on Sunday in the United States if a long-discussed federal ban goes into effect and, as is rumored, the company then chooses to disable the app for users in the U.S.There has been plenty of discourse in mainstream media about what a ban would mean for users and also for companies that use the platform as part of their marketing strategies. Expedia has 1.7 million followers on the app and Booking.com has 1.4 million, and there's been growing activity in recent years from travel companies using TikTok to drive brand recognition through short-form videos, with some evening hiring TikTok-focused content creators. But as the ban looms, travel companies PhocusWire contacted are not expressing much concern. Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of @Hotel, a travel booking platform that operates through dozens of social media accounts, said the impact to the industry overall will be minimal.“Travel is a higher-consideration purchase, and TikTok just didn't drive the same travel commerce as Instagram - yet,” he said

PhocusWire
Dec 19th, 2024
Kayak'S Steve Hafner On Strategies For Weighing Opportunity And Risk

How do you handle diving into opportunities when you have a company to protect?Well, you might be a little more risk averse with a company on your hands than you might be in general, according to Kayak co-founder and CEO Steve Hafner, who has stayed with the company since co-founding it two decades ago. “I gamble [in] my personal life, but I don't do that [in] my professional life,” Hafner said during a Center Stage session at The Phocuswright Conference last month.While he wouldn’t get into the biggest gamble he’s taken in his personal life, he did touch on what lost business opportunities have haunted him, such as Google’s purchase of ITA flight software.Years ago, the search giant outbid Kayak for the technology.“I don't know if anyone remembers ITA software, but it's basically the tech engine that powers Google Flights results. And, you know, we came very close to buying. And if we had, as I said, pulled that caper off … perhaps Google would be writing us checks, not us writing them checks, right? So we'd be able to power them,” Hafner said. “It was a big miss.”

PR Newswire
Dec 16th, 2024
Kayak Is Calling It: 2025 Will Be The Year Of Long-Haul, Bucket List Trips

Searches for Japan soar, Asia and Caribbean flight prices hit 3-year low and business class demand strengthensKAYAK Unveils its Data-Driven Travel Trends that will Define 2025STAMFORD, Conn., Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers, get ready to flex those passports in 2025. According to data from KAYAK , the world's leading travel search engine, two-thirds of all flight searches on the platform for 2025 are for international flights. And the good news? International airfare in 2025 is cheaper than last year. The even better news? Flights to KAYAK's #1 trending region for 2025 travel, Asia, are the cheapest they've been in 3 years on average.Japan sticks out as the must-see destination for 2025. Tokyo is 2025's most searched destination and is expected to be the #1 Spring Break destination next year

PhocusWire
Sep 6th, 2024
Skyscanner joins with Travala.com to offer crypto bookings

In November, Travala.com integrated with metasearch giant Kayak.

PR Newswire
Aug 20th, 2024
Flying Solo: Kayak And Opentable Serve Up The Ultimate Guide For Travel And Dining As A Party Of One

September is revealed as one of the most popular months for solo travel & dining50% of Americans plan to travel alone this year, 52% will dine as a party of oneWashington D.C. revealed as the top destination for solo dining and travel in the U.S., with Berlin the top international destinationSTAMFORD, Conn. and SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of September, one of the most popular months for solo travel and dining,1 KAYAK and OpenTable are teaming up to launch a solo travel and dining guide , a go-to source for the hottest solo travel destinations, must-visit restaurants, and expert tips. Solo dining bliss with data-driven insights and inspiration.OpenTable logo (PRNewsFoto/OpenTable) (PRNewsFoto/OpenTable)Survey data2 from KAYAK and OpenTable shows a strong appetite for solo adventures (81% of Americans have dined solo and 70% have traveled solo), and aims to help travelers determine where to embark on their next solo trip.KAYAK: Top Destinations for Solo TravelersWith average hotel prices, flight costs, meal expenses, safety considerations, local attractions and the share of solo dining in mind, the guide includes a dynamic ranking of the top destinations for solo travelers.3Washington, D.C. is the #1 destination for solo travel and dining in the U.S., followed by Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and Salt Lake City, with the full Top 15 ranking revealed here

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