Holidu Expands in France With Cybevasion Deal

European rental tech company Holidu has secured €46 million in new funding and announced the acquisition of Cybevasion, a major French vacation rental portal operator, in a move that strengthens its presence in one of its fastest-growing markets. The funding round was led by new investor Key1 Capital, with continued backing from existing investors including Vintage Investment Partners, Prime Ventures, and 83North. The financial details of the Cybevasion acquisition were not disclosed.

Founded in Germany in 2014, Holidu said the new growth capital will be used to accelerate its artificial intelligence roadmap, grow its property management software business, and support further international expansion. The acquisition of Cybevasion marks Holidu’s eighth to date, following recent deals for Finca Mallorca, Clubrural, and Ferienwohnungen.de earlier in 2024. Cybevasion, which has been active in the French market since 1998, operates the Gites.fr and Chambres-hotes.fr platforms and brings more than 35,000 properties and 20 million unique annual visitors into Holidu’s network.

Holidu plans to integrate its technology with Cybevasion’s services to modernize the booking experience for guests and improve visibility and revenue potential for hosts. French property owners will gain access to Holidu’s online booking tools, automated payments, and dynamic pricing recommendations. In return, Holidu’s existing partners will benefit from broader exposure through Cybevasion’s well-established French platforms.

Johannes Siebers, co-founder and CEO of Holidu, said that combining Cybevasion’s brand recognition with Holidu’s AI-driven technology and local support teams would give French hosts a competitive edge in attracting bookings and managing operations efficiently. Jean-Louis Desouche, founder of Cybevasion, will continue to lead the business and its current employees are expected to remain with the company.

Desouche said that joining Holidu allows his company to meet the evolving expectations of modern travelers by offering instant bookings and faster responses. He praised Holidu’s tech capabilities and its customer-first approach, which he believes will help elevate the Cybevasion user experience.

The new funding will also support Holidu’s ongoing AI initiatives, including what it calls “agentic experiences.” Since launching its first AI-powered assistant for guests, the company has seen a marked reduction in the need for manual customer support. Holidu co-founder and CTO Michael Siebers said the company is now scaling its service model more efficiently by applying AI across its operational stack.

This latest expansion underscores Holidu’s long-term goal to become a dominant player in the European vacation rental market. It follows the company’s €100 million Series E round in 2019, led by 83North, which helped fuel previous acquisitions and the opening of local offices across Europe. Holidu says it plans to continue investing in product innovation and market growth as it positions itself as a full-service platform for both travelers and rental property owners.

Tags: phocuswire, SyndicEx250629B

Holidu Expands in France With Cybevasion Deal

Related Posts