Behind Flywire’s $330 Million Acquisition of Sertifi – and What’s Next

Travel companies, especially tour operators and independent hotels, often make customers jump through hoops to complete a booking.

For the businesses, old finance tech means navigating banks, credit card companies, currency exchange, and more — a cumbersome process that they often don’t have the resources to manage.  

Companies like Flywire aim to help travel businesses simplify and streamline payments, building a network of financial vendors that their clients can access through a tech platform. Most of Flywire’s clients are tour operators, destination management companies, and hotels. 

This week, it acquired Chicago-based Sertifi, which helps hotels streamline events contracting, group bookings, and their associated payments. The company has