Layla Makes Big Move Acquiring AI Itinerary Startup

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Layla, a startup focused on travel discovery, has recently acquired Roam Around, an itinerary builder powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This acquisition demonstrates Layla's dedication to improving its trip planning capabilities through the integration of cutting-edge AI technology.

Layla, which launched publicly last year, received support from influential figures in the travel industry such as Andy Phillips, co-founder of Booking.com, and Barry Smith, co-founder of Skyscanner. The app utilizes AI to assist users in planning their vacations by aggregating data from various travel websites and incorporating video clips from influencers that highlight potential destinations.

This innovative approach grabbed the attention of the industry, but the founders of Layla saw an opportunity to expand their offerings by acquiring Roam Around and its itinerary-building bot.

Roam Around, founded by former Google employee Shie Gabbai, who had experience working on the mapping app Waze, secured $1 million in seed funding from FLYR.com and investor Jason Calacanis. The startup's bot has already generated over 10 million AI-powered itineraries and attracts 500,000 monthly visitors.

Integration of Roam Around's Technology

Saad Saeed, co-founder of Layla, stated that Roam Around's expertise in creating comprehensive trip itineraries and its partnerships with platforms such as TripAdvisor and Viator make it an ideal addition to enhance Layla's capabilities. Layla has already started implementing Roam Around's solutions, providing users with improved access to detailed daily itineraries for their trips. Saeed also mentioned that Layla placed its AI bot on Roam Around's website to expand its reach.

In the long run, Layla plans to fully integrate Roam Around's product into its own offerings. As part of the acquisition deal, Shie Gabbai, the founder of Roam Around, will take on the role of COO at Layla, and the rest of Roam Around's team will join Layla as well, combining their expertise to advance Layla's technology.

The Future of AI-Powered Travel Planning

This acquisition highlights the growing momentum behind AI-driven trip planning. Travel booking platforms like Expedia and Kayak have already introduced AI plugins to enhance recommendations.

Layla's approach aligns closely with brands such as Matador Network, which incorporates influencer videos in its GuideGeek flight results. By integrating Roam Around, Layla establishes itself as a leader in leveraging AI to transform and personalize travel discovery.

As AI continues to advance rapidly, travelers can anticipate more startups following Layla's example. AI holds the promise of simplifying trip planning by handling monotonous research tasks and tailoring suggestions based on individual traveler preferences.

While the exact financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, this deal underscores Layla's commitment to enhancing its offerings through strategic acquisitions. It is likely that we will witness more significant acquisitions in the AI-powered travel technology sector as startups race to create the go-to solution for trip planning.

Sources:

[1] https://robots.net/news/layla-acquires-ai-itinerary-building-bot-roam-around/

[2] https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/12/travel-startup-layla-acquires-flyr-backed-ai-itinerary-building-bot/

[3] https://inside.com/startups/posts/travel-startup-layla-acquires-itinerary-building-bot-maker-roam-around-413845

[4] https://bnnbreaking.com/tech/layla-acquires-roam-around-ai-powered-itinerary-integration-set-to-revolutionize-travel-planning

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