Travellab | The TravelLab Group is Africa’s leading travel and fintech technology group.

In 2006, we brought the best of online travel tech and know how from Sweden to South Africa and changed how people buy travel and since then we are rewriting the story of travel tech and fintech for the continent

THIS IS OUR STORY

TravelLab is a technology and fintech group disrupting the travel eco system in Africa

The TravelLab Group is Africa’s leading travel and fintech technology group.

Our journey began in Sweden over 20 years ago as a pioneer in a nascent OTA industry;

with one goal – making travel easier

Today, TravelLab serves the African market from its hub in Cape Town with a diversified portfolio of brands; featuring market leaders in various travel, fintech and technology verticals, geographic markets, distribution models, customer segments, and travel products.

With over two decades of travel and technology experience, we are committed to disrupting travel and adjacent financial market market through innovative technology that captures people’s hearts.

AFRICA - The Last Frontier in Online Travel

Africa – one of the few bright spots on the gloomy global economic horizon.

George Soros, Chairman of Soros Fund Management

why we love africa

The African Internet economy is one of the largest overlooked opportunities of the past decade.

The mobile Internet is transforming life across the continent with the support of growing local connectivity and mobility and a dynamic, young urban population.

The Internet economy is improving productivity and efficiencies across large swaths of the economy.

Africa has the world’s youngest, fastest-growing, and increasingly urbanized workforce. These demographics, coupled with improved longevity and education levels, have led to a rise in the consumption of online services.

Additionally, heavily concentrated populations in Africa’s cities are supporting developer communities that attract new talent pools.

A robust collaboration between the private and public sectors, between startups/scaleups and established blue chip companies are becoming the new normal which drives innovation and lowers entry costs.

Africa is home to 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population.

0 %

Of the top 20 fastest-growing countries in the world, 19 are in Africa.

60% of the population will be under 24 by 2025

30 %

Rapid urbanization, with 85 cities home to over one million inhabitants by 2025.

45%— of all Africans will be living in a city.

25 %

Founded

Travelstart is born in Sweden (self-funded).

PROFITABILITY & EXPANSION

Company shows first profits and expands in Scandinavia

AWARDS + AFRICAN EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY

Scandinavian market leader. Won several industry awards and launched in South Africa

NORTHERN EUROPEAN EXPANSION

Hit 80 million Euro in travel sales

MOVE HEAD OFFICE AND DIVEST EUROPEAN BUSINESS

Move Headquarters to Cape Town, South Africa. Divesting of European Business to eTraveli.

FURTHER AFRICAN EXPANSION

Launch in Tanzania, Kenya, Nigerian as partnerships.

LAUNCH OF INSURETECH

Launch of Hepstar -fintech business in insurance focusing on the travel sector

FIRST EXTERNAL INVESTMENT OF $40M

Multiple travel sales records. Launch of mobile app. Further Middle East expansion. VOTED AFRICA’S LEADING OTA

ACQUISITIONS

Accommodation verticals (SafariNow & Nightsbridge)

ACQUISITION

Club Travel Group

COVID

Focus on automatisation and AI tech development.

PARTNERSHIP

Mastercard

HIGHEST EBITDA recorded to date in 2022

Launch GlydePay Payments company

The future is wide open…

Our Companies

Travelstart was launched in Sweden in 1999 as one of the pioneering OTAs in Scandinavia. In 2010, the head office moved to Cape Town, South Africa, while the European side of the business was divested to Etraveli. As the incumbent and largest OTA in South Africa, Travelstart today is the mother brand within the TravelLab group and a household name amongst both customers and industry partners in its core markets.

Clubtravel — Club Travel is part of the Club Travel group and offers +/- 350-400 Independent Travel Consultants (ITC’s with no IATA license), affiliates (IATA agencies) and branded partners (travel agents or ITC’s using the Club Travel brand) support, access to the best market deals and a simple way to book travel for both Corporate and Leisure travelers with two tools - CMS (Leisure) and NexCT (Corporate).

Flightsite is a partnership focused distribution OTA acquired by Club Travel in 2009, and uses a range of distribution models ranging from direct sales, online and offline B2B2C partners, as well as through its online B2B booking portal used by independent travel consultants. It also encompasses Club Holidays which is a tour operator selling product across the group.

Nightsbridge — NightsBridge is the leading Channel Manager and PMS in Africa, with an extensive range of payment services and integrations. Clients get an affordable suite of world-class services and outstanding support in a geographic region with low adoption of technology. In addition, their sister-product, ActivityBridge, offers similar services to non-accommodation suppliers of adventure, experiences and tours.

Founded in 1999, SafariNow is South Africa’s oldest accommodation portal and is a household name in South Africa. SafariNow offers accommodation options to travelers across both the formal hotel and informal vacation rental sectors.

Glyde Pay is a Neobank and CAAS (Card as a Service) solution solving the complexities of payments in travel for both individuals and businesses in Africa. The payment solution is in partnership with Mastercard and in alliance with Access Bank (BIN sponsor).

Hepstar is a global leader in the distribution of travel insurance & travel ancillary products. Their B2B API-based insurtech platform provides travel companies with a single source for accessing & optimising multiple travel ancillary suppliers' products and unlocking new revenue streams globally through a single integration.

Partners

A trailblazer for three decades, Amadeus Capital Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in people who create transformational technologies and sustainable businesses. Amadeus backs early stage and growth companies in Europe and Latin America, from its locations in Cambridge, London and Oxford, Lausanne, San Francisco and São Paulo.