Booking Holdings Injects $100 Million into AI Tourism Company Vayo

Booking Holdings plans to invest $100 million in Vayo, a startup specializing in AI-driven travel planning, according to Skift.

Vayo is the second AI-native venture backed by the group in this direction, following Lola. Vayo has launched its private beta, and the investment remains subject to continued product development and market conditions.

The venture targets frequent leisure travelers, who, according to Skift, represent a single-digit percentage of total travelers but generate between 27% and 30% of total spending.

The investment comes as major travel companies race to integrate AI tools into booking and recommendation services to attract travelers seeking faster and more personalized trip planning.

What do these terms mean?

AI-native: A company or product built from the ground up around artificial intelligence technologies, rather than added as a later addition to a traditional product.

Private Beta: An early version of a product made available to a limited group of users for testing and feedback before a public release.

Strategic Investor: A large company that invests in another company not just for financial profit, but to serve its operational and expansion goals.