Berlin's Layla joins Expedia Group in AI travel deal
Layla is an AI-powered travel agent that helps travelers discover, plan, and book trips through conversation. © Layla
Expedia Group has acquired Layla, the Berlin based startup behind an AI travel agent that helps people plan trips just by chatting. According to the company's press release, the deal folds Layla's conversational planning tools into Expedia's much larger booking platform, covering everything from flights and hotels to activities and dining.
Layla launched in 2023, founded by Saad Saeed and Sardar Bali, with the idea of making trip planning feel as easy as texting a friend. The startup built what the press release calls one of the most innovative AI planning tools around, guiding travelers from a first spark of inspiration all the way to a finished itinerary.
Expedia's Chief Product Officer Shilpa Ranganathan said the acquisition fits neatly into the company's broader AI strategy, which already includes AI features across its core products and partnerships with leading AI platforms. Pairing Layla's tech with Expedia's global hotel and flight supply, its traveler data, and its marketplace reach is meant to give users a smoother, more personal booking experience.
Layla co founder and CEO Saad Saeed called the move a chance to bring the company's vision to a much bigger audience, thanks to the scale and resources Expedia brings.
The press release did not disclose financial terms. For Berlin's startup scene, the deal is another sign that local AI and travel tech founders are catching attention well beyond Germany, this time from one of the biggest names in the industry, a Nasdaq listed marketplace serving travelers in more than 70 countries.
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