Hostelworld.com founder joins Skyscanner as chairman

The founder of Irish travel online giant Hostelworld.com has joined flight comparison site Skyscanner as chairman.

The founder of Irish travel online giant Hostelworld.com has joined flight comparison site Skyscanner as chairman.

Ray Nolan, founder of Hostelworld parent Web Reservations International, last year led the company through a $340 million sale, claimed as the largest in the decade in Ireland.

Skyscanner has just reported a record £3.5 million quarter and Nolan joins the company as it prepares for a major push for growth in existing and new markets.

Nolan said: “I am delighted to be joining such an outstanding company in the travel technology sector and look forward to helping them realise their significant ambitions right across the online travel search space.

“With the company’s direct relationships with airlines and OTAs and its exceptionally strong multi-national model, Skyscanner is uniquely placed in the flight search market.

“The last two years have been extremely successful but Skyscanner is now set for yet another exponential growth spurt.”

Skyscanner CEO Gareth Williams said: “We’ve had a very steep growth trajectory in the last two years and are now set to leverage that as we aim for the number one position worldwide.

“Ray Nolan has hugely relevant industry and entrepreneurial experience and a proven track record of creating great companies with high growth.

“As one of the fastest growing technology companies in the UK, Skyscanner has many of the characteristics that made HostelWorld successful and we look forward to drawing on Ray’s experience and working with him to explore the potential for strategic partnerships and ventures.”