Traditional international travel planning often involves multiple bookings for accommodations, flights, activities, transfers, transportation methods, and itineraries, typically handled by travel agents. As there is no real-time pricing available for these high-end options, travelers are left with limited alternatives. A Spanish startup has successfully tackled the challenge and has just secured a significant €60 million Series D investment, with Quadrille Capital leading the round.
While the market for multi-day tour packages has vast potential, it remains one of the last bastions of the travel industry to undergo digital transformation. The Exoticca platform seamlessly integrates flights, accommodations, culinary experiences, transfer services, ground transportation, and local businesses to provide a comprehensive travel solution. The company claims that this move simplifies the process of purchasing its premium packages and also slashes prices by up to 30%.
Exotica boasts that it has more than quadrupled its gross sales annually since 2015, with an extensive global presence now spanning the US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, and Colombia through a network of travel and non-travel online and offline partners.
“The concept of package deals has remained stagnant for over two centuries since its inception by Thomas Cook, with little innovation or progress made in this area,” said Exoticca CEO Pere Vallès. We’re introducing a cutting-edge mannequin that seamlessly integrates online promotions, boasting unparalleled versatility while delivering significant cost savings.
Exottica competes to some degree with Tourlane, a platform that enables travelers to plan and book multi-day trips online, offering analysis and purchasing capabilities. Tourlane, a leading travel booking platform, has secured $101 million in funding to date.
Despite this, Vallès emphasized that Exottica does not perceive them as competitors. They possess a unique model that is more closely tied to a specific market. They don’t provide real-time pricing.”
His company prioritizes value-for-money, according to Vallés. As the discussion unfolds, we find ourselves targeting a clientele comprising middle-class and upper-middle-class individuals.” Notably, approximately three-quarters of our business originates from within the United States. and across Canada, as well as individuals and Canadian tourists visiting our 70+ global locations, all managed seamlessly from our corporate headquarters in Barcelona.
He aims to expand his focus to encompass Latin America, the Middle East, India, and China.
At an announcement, Alejandra Duran Gil, Associate at Quadrille Capital, remarked that “Exoticca’s solid financial foundation and the team’s exceptional operational prowess are at the core of our investment hypothesis.”
Collaborating on this project were newcomers All Iron and ICF, alongside existing partners 14W, Mangrove, Bonsai, Sabadell, and Aldea.
