Accor purchase of Gekko values search and book tech provider at €100m

Accor purchase of Gekko values search and book tech provider at €100m

AccorHotels claims to have paved the way for creation of global leader in B2B hotel distribution Continue reading

AccorHotels claims to have paved the way for the creation of a global leader in business-to-business hotel distribution with the takeover of Gekko.

The transaction values Gekko at €100 million. The firm offers search and booking solutions via a technology interface connected to more than 500,000 hotels worldwide.

Its turnkey management tools allow business travellers to manage their online payments, offering them the option of tracking and optimising their costs.

The acquisition for an undisclosed sum is in line with a strategy aimed at strengthening French hospitality giant AccorHotels’ leadership across the entire customer experience by enhancing the range of services offered to business travellers.

Gekko serves more than 300 corporate customers and 14,000 travel agencies through its subsidiaries – HCorpo (key accounts), Teldar Travel (leisure travel agencies), Teldar Travel Biz (SME-focused travel agencies), Miles Attack (loyalty programme) and Infinite Hotel (wholesaler serving independent French hotels).

Gekko operates in France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, and has been posting strong year-on-year growth for many years.

Gekko, founded in 2010, is managed by Olivier Delouis and Stéphane de Laforcade.  They introduced a European investment fund, HLD, as a shareholder in 2015.

Delouis and de Laforcade will remain at the head of Gekko and will continue to run the group independently.

AccorHotels chief disruption and growth officer Thibault Viort said: “We are very pleased to have Gekko’s team join our Group. AccorHotels’ extensive global footprint, together with Gekko’s technological leadership, today paves the way for the creation of a global leader in b-to-b hotel distribution.

“Since business travellers represent a key segment in the group’s business, our capacity to respond to the specific requirements of this segment across the entire value chain is a factor that really sets us apart.”

Delouis and de Laforcade said: “Teaming up with AccorHotels during such an important time for our company creates new opportunities for growth.

“We are fully aligned on our b-to-b distribution strategy, and AccorHotels’ strong brand and reputation will provide us with additional resources and greater legitimacy in key international markets.”