Flipkart buys minority stake in B2B travel platform TravClan
What's the deal? Flipkart has acquired a minority stake in TravClan, a B2B travel technology platform, to expand its international travel offerings across Cleartrip and Flipkart TravelDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The companies did not disclose financial details.
What does TravClan do? It runs an outbound leisure travel platform with direct supplier listings across domestic and international destinations. More than 15,000 travel agents use its technology to customise and book holiday packages, hotels, and activities, backed by round-the-clock on-ground support.
What's the rationale? The investment gives Flipkart access to TravClan's supplier network and destination operations, helping Cleartrip and Flipkart Travel expand international holiday packages and on-ground assistance. "Travellers today are looking for more than a flight or hotel booking," said Nishant Verman, senior vice president of corporate development and partnerships at Flipkart.
What's the endgame? TravClan will use the funding for global travel supply, technology, and destination expansion, while growing its business development, engineering, and destination teams. The partnership lets it reach a larger base of Indian consumers.
Why now? "India is becoming one of the largest outbound travel markets in the world, with travellers taking their first international trips driving a significant part of this growth," said TravClan co-founder and chief executive officer Arun Bagaria.
The signal: Flipkart continues to build out travel alongside its core e-commerce business, having acquired online travel firm Cleartrip in 2021. The TravClan deal signals a push into curated international holidays as Indian outbound travel accelerates.
Read more: msn.com
Image credit: Jorge Lascar
