KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, today announced the acquisition of Munich-based swoodoo, Germany’s leading flight and hotel search site. The company also announced the appointment of Dr. Christian Saller, Chief Executive Officer of swoodoo, as Managing Director of KAYAK Germany.
The combined company will maintain both the KAYAK and swoodoo brands in Germany while integrating technology best practices over the next few months. The swoodoo management team assumes oversight for growing both brands in German-speaking countries. Along with Saller, KAYAK Germany’s management team now includes swoodoo co-founders, Wolfgang Heigl, Chief Marketing Officer, and Lars Jankowfsky, Chief Technology Officer.
“On many metrics, swoodoo has been beating us handily in Germany,” said KAYAK Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Steve Hafner. “We’re glad to now have their team on our side of the table. This acquisition gives us a clear leadership position in Europe’s second-largest online travel market.”
“We’re very excited to join forces with KAYAK,” added Saller. “KAYAK’s scale will help accelerate product innovation for the swoodoo brand, and our team’s local expertise will further expand the KAYAK brand in Germany.”
