Kayak (company)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel metasearch |
| Founded | January 2004 |
| Founder | Steve Hafner, Paul M. English |
| Headquarters | Stamford, Connecticut , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (30 countries) |
Key people | Steve Hafner (CEO) |
| Products | Airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, vacation deals |
| Parent | Booking Holdings |
Kayak (presented as KAYAK) functions as a metasearch engine specializing in travel-related services such as airline tickets, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and vacation deals. The platform is a subsidiary of Booking Holdings.
Kayak's website and mobile applications are accessible in approximately 20 languages and serve users across 30 countries, including but not limited to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, Switzerland, Nordic nations, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Belgium, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
History
Established in January 2004 by entrepreneurs Steve Hafner and Paul M. English, Kayak’s current CEO Hafner had previously co-founded Orbitz and managed its business development and marketing efforts. The company was originally incorporated as Travel Search Company, Inc., before rebranding to Kayak Software Corporation in August 2004. Its public website launch occurred in February 2005.
In December 2007, Kayak raised $196 million from investors such as General Catalyst, Sequoia Capital, and Accel Partners, facilitating the purchase of competitor SideStep. The company extended its footprint into Europe in May 2010 through the acquisition of German travel search site Swoodoo. This expansion continued with the acquisition of Austrian travel search engine Checkfelix in April 2011.
Kayak made its initial public offering on July 20, 2012, listing on NASDAQ under the ticker KYAK with shares closing at $33.18. Less than a year afterward, in May 2013, Booking Holdings (known then as Priceline.com) acquired Kayak for $2.1 billion.
Post-acquisition, Kayak moved its headquarters to Stamford’s Harbor Point area in 2013 with support from local government initiatives. The company broadened its reach into Latin America by acquiring Brazilian flight metasearch platform Mundi in 2017. In 2018, Kayak assumed operational control of Hotels Combined following its purchase by Booking Holdings.
In 2024, Kayak further enhanced its offerings by incorporating Southwest Airlines fares into its search results.
Kayak’s competitive edge in the travel metasearch sector is driven by strategic acquisitions and international growth. Its business approach capitalizes on advanced technology to consolidate comprehensive travel data across diverse markets while maintaining solid financial health within Booking Holdings’ organizational framework.
Awards
In 2013, Travel + Leisure honored Kayak’s application as one of the Best Apps for Business Travelers and Best Apps for websites and travelers. Time included Kayak among the 50 Best Websites of 2009. In 2012, Mashable ranked Kayak at the top of its "10 Budget Airfare Tools Every Traveler Should Know."
Kayak has received numerous Webby Awards over the years:
- 2008: People's Voice award in travel website category
- 2009: Webby Award for travel website
- 2011: People's Voice award for mobile travel application
- 2012: Three distinctions—Webby and People's Choice for travel website plus People's Voice for mobile app
- 2013: Nomination for Best Travel Mobile & App
- 2014: People's Voice and Webby Award for Travel category (Tablets)
- 2015: People's Voice Award for Mobile Travel category
Additionally, the World Travel Awards recognized Kayak as World's Leading Flight Comparison Website in 2013 and World's Leading Travel Search Website in 2011.
All-American Muslim advertising
In December 2011, Kayak opted against renewing its advertising agreement with the TLC reality series All-American Muslim after facing pressure from the Florida Family Association, a conservative organization opposing the program's content. Robert Birge, Kayak's Chief Marketing Officer, explained that the lack of full disclosure from TLC regarding the show's premise played a significant role in their decision. This episode underscores the complexities companies encounter when aligning their brand and advertising approaches within sensitive audience segments.