Trivago is one of those websites you’ve probably seen pop up when you’re trying to find a hotel at the best price. It’s colorful, it’s fast, and it compares lots of deals all in one place. But have you ever asked yourself—who actually owns Trivago? And how did they get so good at helping people book hotels?
TL;DR (Too long, didn’t read)
Trivago is a German company, but it’s majority-owned by the big travel tech giant, Expedia Group. While Trivago started off independently in Düsseldorf, Expedia saw its potential and bought a large chunk of it. Trivago is still publicly traded, which means many investors own parts of it. But overall, Expedia holds the largest share and has a lot of say in what Trivago does.
What Is Trivago, Anyway?
Before we dive into who owns it, let’s clear up what Trivago actually does.
Trivago is a hotel metasearch engine. That means it doesn’t book hotels itself. Instead, it compares prices from different booking websites like Booking.com, Hotels.com, Agoda, and tons more.
- You type in where you want to stay.
- Trivago shows you prices from different sites.
- You pick the deal you like best and get redirected to book it.
They’ve become one of the biggest names in hotel searches, thanks to their easy interface and tons of advertising (yes, those catchy ads!).
Where Did Trivago Come From?
Trivago was born in Germany in 2005. It was created by three smart guys—Rolf Schrömgens, Stephan Stubner, and Peter Vinnemeier. They were tech-savvy entrepreneurs who wanted to make travel planning easier.
Their little startup quickly became a big deal in Europe. In fact, Trivago was one of the first hotel price comparison websites in the world. By 2010, they had caught the eye of a massive company across the pond—Expedia.
So, Who Owns Trivago Today?
Okay, here’s the juicy part. You might think Trivago is just a German company doing its own thing. But nope! The majority owner is Expedia Group, a United States-based travel giant.
Wait, what’s Expedia Group?
Expedia Group owns a whole bunch of travel websites. Here’s a few you might recognize:
- Expedia.com
- Hotels.com
- Vrbo
- Orbitz
- Travelocity
- Hotwire
They’re like the parent company of online travel. And in 2013, Expedia bought a majority stake in Trivago for about $632 million. That’s a LOT of hotel bookings!
Since then, Expedia has owned more than 60% of Trivago. So even though Trivago is based in Germany and has its own leadership team, Expedia still calls many of the shots.
Is Trivago a Public Company?
Yes, it is! Trivago went public in 2016. That means regular people (like you and me) can buy shares in the company on the stock market.
It trades under the symbol TRVG on the NASDAQ exchange. When they went public, Expedia kept their majority shares. Other investors bought smaller pieces of the pie.
This setup means Trivago has its own board of directors, its own CEO, and some freedom. But Expedia, as the biggest shareholder, still has major control.
Does Trivago Compete with Expedia’s Other Sites?
Funny enough—kind of, yes. Trivago compares deals from many websites, including some that belong to Expedia!
So when you search on Trivago, it might show you a hotel price from:
- Hotels.com (owned by Expedia)
- Booking.com (owned by Booking Holdings, Expedia’s rival)
- Agoda (also from Booking Holdings)
- And others
That means Trivago is like a helpful referee in a match where one of the teams signs its paycheck! It’s a little awkward, but also pretty handy for us as travelers.
Why Did Expedia Buy Trivago?
Great question. It came down to three big reasons:
- Trivago was growing fast. Expedia saw how popular Trivago was becoming and didn’t want to miss out.
- It added tech power. Trivago had a strong search system that helped Expedia offer better services overall.
- Prevent competition. Buying them meant other companies couldn’t grab Trivago and use it against Expedia!
So while Trivago still looks and acts like a separate brand, Expedia scooped them up to stay ahead in the travel race.
Who Runs Trivago Now?
As of now, Trivago is run by CEO Axel Hefer. He took over from co-founder Rolf Schrömgens in 2020.
Axel is serious about data and innovation. Under his lead, Trivago has tried new things like:
- Improving mobile apps
- Adding vacation rental listings
- Targeting new countries
Expedia still owns most of the company, but Axel and the executive team shape its everyday decisions.
Important Takeaways
Let’s break it down in simple terms:
- Trivago is a hotel price comparison website from Germany.
- It was founded in 2005 and became popular very quickly.
- In 2013, Expedia Group bought the majority of Trivago for $632 million.
- Trivago went public in 2016 and trades on the NASDAQ.
- Expedia is still the largest owner and influences major decisions.
Final Thoughts
Trivago might look like a solo traveler online, but behind the scenes, it’s part of a much bigger travel family. Expedia Group has helped it grow and compete in a super crowded industry.
So next time you’re using Trivago to find a cheap hotel room, just remember—it’s got some big-league backing. But whether you book through Expedia, Hotels.com, or Booking.com, Trivago’s job stays the same: Get you the best hotel deals. Happy travels!