Montreal-based Busbud, a ticket marketplace connecting
travelers and bus operators, has merged with Toronto-based Betterez, a
reservation system and ticketing management platform for ground travel operators.
Amadeus Ventures, an
investor in Betterez since 2017, is also making an investment in Busbud,
although the amount has not been disclosed.
Busbud helps consumers book bus tickets on more than
three million routes worldwide in more than 80 countries, with 17 languages and
30 currencies supports on its website and in its app.
The company says the merger with Betterez, whose
systems are used by more than 50 bus operators in a dozen countries around the
world, will enable it to “accelerate the digital transformation of the
intercity bus industry, better serve its ground travel partners and empower
them to achieve more sales, efficiency and innovation in their operations.”
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In February
this year, Busbud raised $11 million and acquired Chile-based bus
marketplace Recorrido.
“As a global travel marketplace, our supply has always
been our north star. Having connected into hundreds of systems over the last decade, we
understand the key role reservation systems play in helping transport operators digitize their
operations. Today, thousands of ground travel operators are still offline or using legacy systems,
without the benefits of the full range of features offered by a platform like Betterez,”
says Busbud CEO and co-founder, LP Maurice.
“Our merger with Betterez will allow us to better serve
our partners, bring more operators online and expand our trusted network of
partnerships worldwide. We will continue to help operators improve their operations
and sales reach, while unlocking new functionality and route coverage for
travelers worldwide.”
As part of the funding from Amadeus Ventures, Amadeus’
executive vice president for travel distribution, Angel Gallego, will join
Busbud’s board as an observer.
“Amadeus is at the heart of the travel ecosystem. We
bring together key partners in the travel industry, creating a more connected world, where we
put the traveler's needs front and center,” Gallego says.
“We believe that Busbud joining forces with Betterez
offers an innovative proposition for ground travel operators including coach inventory. Betterez
makes cloud-based software that simplifies enterprise workflow interactions between employees, customers,
partners, and agents, and we look forward to exploring collaboration opportunities
with both companies driving further innovation in multimodal travel.”
Both Busbud and Betterez were founded in 2011.