Tripla, a Japan-based hospitality technology company, has acquired distribution solutions provider BookandLink for $6.8 million.
The acquisition "aligns with Tripla's mission to enhance profitability for hoteliers and improve the guest experience through a more integrated technology platform," according to a statement from the company.
BookandLink provides channel management and guest engagement technology that will be merged with Tripla's booking engine, customer relationship management and payment tools.
The statement adds that joining the companies will serve more than 5,490 properties and enable Tripla to speed up development in Asia while boosting revenue for each company in their respective markets.
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BookandLink’s 28-strong team and founders will stay on. Said CEO Philippe Raunet, "Our collaboration with Tripla resonates perfectly with our mission to equip hoteliers with innovative solutions that deepen guest relationships and drive profitability. This merger will allow us to strengthen our commitment to our valued customers in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia, particularly as the industry transitions in the post-COVID-19 era. The majority of the 50,000 accommodations in Indonesia still use manual processes with pen and paper, motivating us to develop our market further. Indonesia hoteliers chose us because we are the only local, full-service solutions company."
Kazuhisa Takahashi, CEO of Tripla, said: "Our vision is to help our hoteliers develop their direct channel with cutting-edge technology and solutions, establishing more profitable guest relationships and return business. Through this combination with BookandLink we can go further and help our smart hoteliers improve their top-line revenue and streamline operations while keeping staffing costs under control. Building on our achievements in Japan, we are joining forces with BookandLink to enter Indonesia and, together, shape the future of travel technology and distribution."
The deal was financed by cash and Tripla stock with the Development Bank of Japan acquiring a 47% share of BookandLink while Tripla has 53%.