Travel tech startups have raised $2.2 billion across 302 funding rounds in the first three quarters of 2026, down sharply from $3.7 billion in 2025. The sector is on track for its lowest funding year since at least 2018, with deal volume falling for a third consecutive year despite a wave of AI-focused startups entering the space.
Mews, an Amsterdam-based hospitality software company, secured the year's largest funding round. The company raised $300 million in a Series D led by EQT Growth in January, with participation from Atomico, HarbourVest Partners, Kinnevik, Battery Ventures and Tiger Global Management. The round valued Mews at $2.5 billion. Mews helps hotels manage reservations, payments and operations and plans to expand its use of AI agents to automate workflows.
Other major rounds included Stay22, a Montreal-based startup using AI to help publishers and event organizers convert audience interest into travel bookings, which secured $122 million from Summit Partners in February. Kindred, a San Francisco-based home-swapping platform, announced $85 million in Series C funding led by Index Ventures in February, followed by a $40 million Series B co-led by New Enterprise Associates and Figma CEO Dylan Field.
Chinese electric aircraft developer Aerofugia raised approximately $144 million in February led by CITIC Securities, alongside New Alliance Capital and Vertex Ventures China. Paris-based event sourcing platform Naboo raised $70 million in Series B funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners in February.
On exits, Amadeus acquired corporate travel AI assistant SkyLink in February, while Expedia acquired AI trip-planning startup Layla in July. Expedia also completed its acquisition of Tiqets, a booking platform for attractions and experiences, in February. Travel experiences platform Klook withdrew its planned U.S. IPO in October after filing last November.
Public travel company Navan, formerly called TripActions, has gained nearly 60% this year since beginning Nasdaq trading in October 2025.