Expedia Eyes CarTrawler as B2B Becomes Its Fastest Growth Lane

Expedia Group may be considering a deal with CarTrawler, the Dublin-based travel technology company focused on car rental, ground transport, and travel insurance.

CarTrawler executives, owner TowerBrook Capital Partners, Expedia Group, and Evercore met last week at CarTrawler’s Dublin headquarters. The talks could lead to an acquisition, investment, or expanded partnership, but no deal has been officially announced.

CarTrawler is not a consumer travel brand. It works behind the scenes, helping airlines, travel agencies, loyalty programs, and other partners sell car rentals, airport transfers, ride-hailing, and insurance during the booking process. For Expedia, this could strengthen a part of the trip where its B2B platform is less developed than hotels.

CarTrawler would fit Expedia’s strategy

Expedia’s B2B business helps other companies sell travel products through their own websites and apps. These partners can include airlines, banks, loyalty programs, and travel agencies. Expedia provides the inventory and technology, while the partner keeps the customer relationship.

CarTrawler would help Expedia offer more than hotel supply. Car rental is a difficult category because prices, vehicle types, local rules, insurance options, and supplier systems vary by market. A stronger car rental and ground transport platform would make Expedia more useful to partners that want to sell a fuller trip in one place.

B2B is Expedia’s strongest growth story

Expedia’s latest results explain why the company is investing in B2B. In the first quarter of 2026, total gross bookings rose 13 percent, while B2B gross bookings grew 22 percent. Revenue increased 15 percent overall, driven by 25 percent growth in B2B revenue.

This makes B2B one of Expedia’s clearest growth engines. Its consumer brands, including Expedia.com, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, still depend heavily on marketing to attract travelers. B2B is different because partners bring their own customers. That can make growth more efficient and less dependent on paid search and direct advertising.

Tiqets showed Expedia wants to sell the full trip

The possible CarTrawler move follows Expedia’s agreement to acquire Tiqets, an Amsterdam-based platform for attractions and experiences. Expedia said that deal would help it deliver richer full-trip experiences through both its B2B platform and consumer brands.

CarTrawler would fit the same direction. Tiqets adds destination activities. CarTrawler would add cars, airport transfers, ride-hailing, and insurance. Together, these products would help Expedia move closer to a one-stop platform for partners that want to sell more parts of the trip.

Expedia’s B2B push could gain a CarTrawler boost

Expedia may be exploring a deal with CarTrawler to strengthen its B2B travel business, where it supplies travel inventory and technology to partners such as airlines, banks, loyalty programs, and travel agencies. The move would make strategic sense because Expedia’s B2B unit is growing faster than its consumer brands, with first-quarter 2026 B2B revenue up 25 percent and B2B gross bookings up 22 percent. CarTrawler could help Expedia fill a key gap in car rental, airport transfers, ride-hailing, and travel insurance, making its partner platform closer to a one-stop shop for the full trip.

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