Booking.com Announces the 10 Startups that will Join its 2018 Accelerator Programme in Sustainable Tourism

SINGAPORE – 1 MARCH, 2018 – Today Booking.com, one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies and digital technology leader, announced the 10 sustainable tourism startups that will be joining the 2018 Booking Booster Programme in Amsterdam in May 2018. Building upon its successful launch in 2017, the three-week accelerator program consists of a series of lectures, hands-on workshops and coaching, culminating in a final pitch to receive a scaling grant of up to €500k from Booking.com’s €2 million fund in order to help support the next stage of the startups’ projected growth.

“We’re thrilled with the 10 inventive startups joining us in Amsterdam this spring,” said Gillian Tans, CEO of Booking.com. “The relationships we build with these passionate entrepreneurs not only help fuel their continued growth, but also invigorate and inspire our entire company. Our aim is to build a network of like-minded organisations and individuals that are leveraging technology to create a more sustainable future for destinations worldwide. Through our collective commitment, we are striving to ensure that we can keep the unique destinations we all love happy and healthy for generations to come.”

With hundreds of applicants from all over the world, the 10 startups joining the 2018 programme hail from six different countries and operate collectively across six continents, including Antarctica. Their businesses also represent a diverse mix of innovative online marketplaces that connect travellers with inclusive travel experiences, cutting-edge technology solutions and initiatives that empower local communities to benefit more equally from the global tourism opportunity.

In the region, four Asian startups have made the programme: Community Homestay Network (Nepal), Global Himalayan Expedition (India), Sakha Consulting Wings: Women on Wheels (India) and HiveSters (Thailand).

“Participating in the Booking.com Booster Programme means a possibility of offering Sakha an opportunity to fulfill its potential. We hope to gain new knowledge, new networks, new funds and equipped with all of it, we hope to reach out to hundreds of more women enabling them to break barriers and take on non-traditional livelihoods that can potentially transform their lives. We are very excited at this possibility and thank Booking.com for inviting us for the learning camp,” said Meenu Vadera, Founder of Sakha Consulting Wings.

The six other participants include:

Hotel Con Corazón (Netherlands: Operating in Nicaragua)

Keteka (United States: Operating in Central and South America, Antarctica)

KITRO (Switzerland)

Reflow (Netherlands)

Tastemakers (United States: Operating in Africa)

Wheel the World (United States)

All the participating social enterprises will also receive several months of ongoing mentoring and coaching from Booking.com experts, as well as opportunities and access to collaborate with Booking.com on potential innovation initiatives and experiments to help accelerate their future growth.

Together with the recently launched Booster Labs and the Booking Cares Fund, the Booking Booster Programme sits alongside Booking.com’s internal volunteer programme, where employees have long partnered with local organisations on projects that help improve destinations worldwide. Together these initiatives make up and further expand Booking.com’s Booking Cares commitment and further the company’s mission to make a positive impact globally.

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CONTACT DETAILS FOR BOOKING.COM:

For further information, contact

Nicole Verghese

nicole.verghese@booking.com / +65 6645 0500