Holidu cuts 60 jobs after 14-deal buying spree in European rentals
What's the deal? Munich vacation-rental scaleup Holidu is cutting around 60 jobs, roughly 8% of its workforce, reducing headcount from about 730 to 670. Co-founder and chief executive officer Johannes Siebers confirmed the move, which follows an intense phase of acquisitions and platform integrations across Europe.
Why now? The cuts come after an aggressive dealmaking run — Holidu has closed at least 14 acquisitions and acts as a consolidator in Europe's fragmented vacation-rental market. Integrating those businesses created overlaps in administration, customer support, and marketing.
What led to this? Holidu recently bought the consumer business and brand of German platform Bestfewo.de in an asset deal, then entered the Netherlands with Gites.com. Earlier purchases include France's CybevasionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the German portal ferienwohnungen.de, and regional players such as Clubrural, Spain-HolidayDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Finca MallorcaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? The company says it migrates acquired platforms onto its own system architecture within weeks using AI-supported processes. That standardisation speeds integration and reduces staffing needs in the merged units.
Holidu has also shifted its economic focus toward higher-margin software. More than 70% of revenue now comes from its property-management software Holidu Host, formerly branded Bookiply, which directly manages nearly 60,000 of the portal's 65,000-plus listings. For 2023, it reported revenue of €80.8 million.
What could go wrong? Holidu has raised more than €220 million in venture capital, including €46 million in early 2025, and investors are pushing for operational profitability. Rapid integration of many standalone firms carries execution risk across support and technical systems.
The signal: The reduction shows that fast dealmaking is now being paired with a push to streamline operations, not evidence on its own of a broader rental downturn. With acquisitions contributing about 30% of accommodation-supply growth, Holidu is betting that software and automation can scale faster than headcount.
Read more: joinmares.com
Image credit: Holidu
