Kenyan travel-tech HotelOnline on major onslaught of the African market 

Kenyan based travel-tech outfit HotelOnline has made a strategic acquisition of companies across Africa, positioning itself at the helm of the industry. While many companies in the travel industry have been facing a major dip due to COVID-19, HotelOnline has diversified and acquired other entities solidifying its position in the African travel industry.  Run by two Norwegian-born Kenyans, Havar Bauck, and Endre Opdal, the company has announced the acquisition of AfricaBookings – a pioneer in the tech-enabled distribution of African hotels with an impressive inventory of 6000 hotels, and Cloud9 – a savvy travel and adventure app that has gained huge traction in Kenya.  Since then, the HotelOnline platform which was born in 2015 out of Nairobi's lack of affordable accommodation next to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has grown to be a force to reckon within the hospitality industry. Since the first business in September 2014, to selling hotel rooms worth US$80,000 by the end of 2013 with 130 partner hotels to selling rooms worth US$1.7 million in 2016.  Acquisition of Cloud9 Cloud9 helps travelers to easily discover and book the best leisure experiences, at the best price, across Africa. Cloud9xp was among the 11 startups to be selected for the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa program in 2018 and was featured among the Top 30 Demo Africa startups 2018, Top