HolidayMe has secured $16 million in Series C funding from Gobi Partners, Algebra Ventures, Accel Partners and Global Ventures as it pushes to widen its travel booking platform and cut trip costs for users.
The Dubai-based online travel agency says customers can build their own packages by combining flights, hotels, activities and transport services. The company says its offering is aimed at Muslim travellers and is built around travel needs it describes as underserved.
Co-founder and chief executive Geet Bhalla said the company has focused on technology and user experience for travel bookings. He added that HolidayMe is targeting the travel requirements of 1.8 billion Muslims globally.
Algebra Ventures managing partner Tarek Assaad said HolidayMe has built a leadership position in the Muslim travel online market. He said the team has the vision, domain experience and capabilities to become a global leader in that segment.
HolidayMe was established in 2014 and offers holiday packages, Umrah packages, hotels and flights. The platform says it allows users to customise, plan and book trips online, with more than 400 curated holiday packages and 400,000 hotels across over 200 destinations worldwide.
The company also says its instant bookable Umrah package with visa makes it the first global platform focused on serving the 30 million potential Umrah visitors expected by 2030. HolidayMe says it is also integrating machine learning systems to improve the website experience.
HolidayMe is set to merge with Malaysia-based startup Tripfez to form a platform described as a TripAdvisor for Muslim travellers. Tripfez previously raised US$750,000 in seed funding from Gobi Partners, Malaysia’s Intres Capital and Qunar co-founder Douglas Khoo.
