HotelPlanner in SPAC Deal as It Grows Ranks of 2,000 Gig Economy Customer Service Agents
Skift Take
HotelPlanner found itself a niche in leisure-oriented hotel bookings for groups. It is bent on disrupting the call center model in travel, but will have to prove that its gig-economy customer services agents can develop travel expertise.
HotelPlanner merged with Reservations.com and a special purpose acquisition company at a $567 million valuation in a deal that highlights its growing roster of gig-economy "travel agents." What's more, it underscores a business model that shields it to a degree from head-on competition with other hotel-booking businesses.
The two hotel-booking sites merged with public blank-check company Astrea Acquisition Corp. this week, and would trade under the HotelPlanner brand once the Securities & Exchange Commission approves the listing in several months under the symbol HOTP on Nasdaq. The blank check co
