Big Players Buy in to Tours and Activities – 25 Moments in 2015

Tours and activities startups have spent nearly five years trying to live up to the promise laid out for them in widely mis-interpreted Phocuwright study that projected a $4.1 billion opportunity in the sector (which some read as $27 billion).

And although the peer-to-peer players flamed out and consumers still have yet to embrace any of the tours and activities startups, they are raising more money and seeing interest from larger digital players.

In November GetYourGuide raised an additional $50 million in a Series C round, bringing its total to $95 million raised. TripAdvisor is seeing its $200 million purchase of Viator begin to pay off as revenues from this business line grow. At Expedia, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi spent over $6 million to advertise Expedia’s tours offering, and told investors, too, that he was “Very excited about our tours business.”

Now we just need to see consumers show similar excitement.

The Full Story:

• GetYourGuide Gets a Historic $50 Million Funding Round in Tours and Activities
• Expedia Makes a $6.4 Million Bet on Tours and Activities in New TV Advertising
• Groupon Closes SideTour and Shuts Down Its Tours Platform