Snaptrip Group expands brand portfolio with The Hotel Guru acquisition

Deal made for a seven-figure sum

Snaptrip Group, the UK's leading collection of accommodation marketplaces which includes LateRooms, Snaptrip and Dog Friendly Cottages), has announced the acquisition of international hotel website The Hotel Guru for a seven-figure sum.

This move sees Snaptrip Group strengthen its position in the market, not long after it brought LateRooms back in operation earlier this year, after it fell into administration and the group acquired it in 2019.

The Hotel Guru, known to help travellers that prioritise guest experience, has a large international presence, particularly in the US, which will help the group break into new markets and increase its global reach.

"We are thrilled to welcome The Hotel Guru to the Snaptrip Group family," says Matt Fox, CEO of Snaptrip Group.

"This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our mission to become the go-to platform for all things accommodation in the UK and beyond.

The Hotel Guru's established reputation as a trusted source for curated hotel reviews, with its team of expert reviewers, perfectly complements our existing offerings."

"We are excited to join forces with Snaptrip Group and contribute to their continued success," said Hugh Graham-Watson, who will remain MD of The Hotel Guru.

"This partnership allows us to leverage Snaptrip Group's strong UK presence while offering our international customer base access to a wider range of exceptional accommodation options."

Backed by Bestport Private Equity and Forward Partners, Snaptrip Group began acquiring businesses in 2017 with the purchase of Last Minute Cottages Ltd.

It then added LateRooms, Hot Tub Hideaways and more recently Independent Cottages to its portfolio, which has seen an “aggressive” year on year top-line growth and “very pleasing levels of profitability”.

Fox added: "The travel sector is a constantly changing and challenging market to be in at the moment, especially post Covid, and with economic and governmental volatility.

Being able to spread our presence around hotel and self-catered urban and rural accommodation offerings in the UK, and now abroad with the acquisition of The Hotel Guru, is a determined effort on our part and allows us to optimise many different channels and growth opportunities.

“Our group will continue to be on the lookout for acquisitions that fast-track access to new markets and sectors, to both broaden our customer base and accommodation partners for their mutual benefit."