By Bev Fearis, published 15/07/20
TravelPerk has acquired Albatross, a startup company that offers an API that allows travel providers to display information on travel restrictions in their booking flow.
The information includes risk advisory on Covid-19 and Covid-related restrictions, including whether travel is permitted between locations and any social distancing and face mask regulations that apply.
Albatross’ technology and data will be incorporated into TravelCare, TravelPerk’s travel risk management offering, to help travellers and corporates navigate the complex travel environment created by the pandemic.
TravelCare also covers guidance around other potential issues, including strikes, closures and planned protests, with information updated in real time and presented in a ‘digestible, user-friendly format’.
Avi Meir, CEO and co-founder of TravelPerk, said: “We know from our own data that businesses are starting to think about traveling again. But we also know that there is no going back to the simple world that we took for granted before Covid-19. The new normal for business travel will be more complex and much more unpredictable, as travel corridors or travel bubbles open up and close down in response to the public health situation in each country, or even in specific regions within countries.
“At TravelPerk, our focus is always on delivering the best possible traveler experience. In this new era, that means giving individuals seamless access to the very latest information on travel restrictions and health guidance; not just general information, but the exact things they need to know for the specific journey they are planning.
“This is exactly what the fantastic product built by Albatross makes possible. We were blown away by what Raphael and his team have built and are delighted to have them joining the TravelPerk team as part of our first ever acquisition.”
Raphael Daverio, CEO and founder of Albatross, added: “Joining forces with TravelPerk will help us accelerate our product innovation and growth globally and ultimately gets us closer to our vision of bringing disruptive travel risk management tools to businesses of every size. I am truly thrilled to start working with Avi and his fantastic team to build products that will genuinely set new standards in the travel industry.”
As well as being integrated into TravelPerk’s platform, Albatross’ API offering will continue to be offered as a standalone product for travel providers and end-users.
Its team, led by Daverio, will be joining the TravelPerk team to further develop TravelPerk’s product offering in the travel risk management space.
TravelPerk’s expanded travel risk management offerings also incorporate content from travel risk intelligence provider Riskline.
