Innkeepers learned this week that BedandBreakfast.com was purchased by HomeAway.com Incorporated. The articles below detailed some of the news about the sale.(Bbonline was purchased 4 years ago by Internet Brands in a similar thrust for taking a company public.)
1. Washington Post Link http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/03/AR2010030301126.html
HomeAway Buys Up BedandBreakfast.com
Leena Rao
TechCrunch.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010; 4:10 AM
Vacation home rental site HomeAway is acquiring BedandBreakfast.com, a site for finding bed-and-breakfast properties all over the world. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but BedAndBreakfast.com will continue to operate as a separate site from HomeAway. Austin, TX.-based BedandBreakfast.com lists more than 10,000 B&Bs across 100 countries. HomeAway, which is also based in Austin, was valued at $1.15 billion back in 2008 when the company raised a massive round of $250 million. The site has acquired at least twelve vacation home rental sites, including Homelidays, VRBO, VacationRentals.com, Abritel.fr and OwnersDirect.co.uk.Rumors were recently swirling about a possible IPO for HomeAway, but the company was quick to dismiss the possibility of a public offering this year. HomeAway also aired a SuperBowl commercial in January, which proved to be popular amongst viewers. CrunchBase InformationHomeAwayInformation provided by CrunchBase
2. On BedandBreakfast.com blog : HomeAway Acquires BedandBreakfast.com
March 3, 2010 13:25 by Marti
HomeAway, Inc. - the world's leading online vacation rental marketplace - today announced its acquisition of BedandBreakfast.com. With this acquisition, HomeAway strengthens its position as the No. 1 source for unique lodging alternatives to hotels. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"HomeAway already provides the most trusted sites and broadest inventory for searching for the ideal vacation rental home," says Brian Sharples, chief executive officer of HomeAway. "With the addition of BedandBreakfast.com, we're providing travelers with another option to find home-like accommodations for a vacation experience that delivers far greater satisfaction than staying in a traditional motel or hotel."
BedandBreakfast.com was founded in Austin, Texas, in 1994 by CEO Eric Goldreyer, and has grown into a top travel site listing more than 10,000 B&Bs across 100 countries. The site specializes in providing travelers with a way to have a more personal travel experience for a weekend getaway, business trip, or extended vacation.
"We are thrilled to be joining the HomeAway family," says Goldreyer. "The missions of our two companies are closely aligned - to help consumers easily find and experience a better lodging option than chain hotels and to help property owners effectively compete for and serve the traveler."
HomeAway plans to operate BedandBreakfast.com as an independent brand.
More About HomeAway, Inc.
The HomeAway, Inc. websites connect homeowners and property managers with travelers who seek the space, value and amenities of vacation rental homes as an alternative to hotels. With more than 400,000 global listings across the sites, travelers may easily search for budget to luxury-priced vacation rentals on HomeAway.com, VRBO.com, VacationRentals.com,CyberRentals.com, A1Vacations.com, GreatRentals.com, TripHomes.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, OwnersDirect.co.uk, FeWo-direkt.de and Abritel.fr. The sites also feature Reviews and the HomeAway Rent with Confidence Guarantee, which help ensure a memorable HomeAway from home® experience. HomeAway is headquartered in Austin, Texas and funded by Austin Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, American Capital, Institutional Venture Partners and Trident Capital.
