TripAdvisor Buys European Vacation Rental Site HouseTrip

TripAdvisor has acquired London-based vacation rental service HouseTrip for an undisclosed amount.

TripAdvisor already owns or controls four other vacation rental companies which it operates as both stand-alone sites and uses to populate Vacation Rentals group vacation rental listings on TripAdvisor.com. HouseTrip will join FlipKey, HolidayLettings, Niumbia, and VacationHomeRentals.com. TripAdvisor claims over 770,000 listings between the four existing sites.

“We’re committed to growing TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals and providing travelers with the best possible selection of high quality homes, no matter their destination or budget,” Dermot Halpin, president, TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals said in a statement. “HouseTrip brings valuable choices to our travelers, particularly those visiting Europe.”

In the press release announcing the acquisition, TripAdvisor says that HouseTrip will help it add vacation rentals “in high-demand urban destinations,” a nod to its desire to take ground from Airbnb. FlipKey has made attempts to move into cities including New York, but success has remained elusive.

In an interview with Skift last August, TripAdvisor spokesperson Laurel Greatrix said, “TripAdvisor’s mission is to help travelers book and take the perfect trip. For a growing number, this means the opportunity to live like a local in their destination and stay in non-traditional, more affordable accommodation. As the world’s largest travel community, we’re excited to connect these travelers with the increasing number of homeowners who are sharing their homes, spare rooms and local knowledge with visitors from all over the world.”