London-based hotel pricing software company Lighthouse has achieved unicorn status following a substantial £293 million investment from American private equity giant KKR, marking a significant milestone in the British tech sector.
The company, established by Belgian entrepreneurs Matthias Geeroms and Gino Engels in 2012, has evolved into a crucial technology partner for 70,000 hotels and rental accommodation providers. Its prestigious client roster includes international chains such as Radisson, Accor and IHG.
Sources close to the organisation indicate Lighthouse is on track to generate annual revenues exceeding £79 million this year, nearly doubling its £42.5 million revenue from the previous year. The fresh capital injection will fuel the development of its AI-powered data analysis software and support international expansion plans, including potential acquisitions.
Chief Executive Sean Fitzpatrick describes the company as a “12-year overnight success” and highlights the fragmented nature of the travel technology market. “There is a unique characteristic of travel tech where you have a very small number of behemoths, the likes of Amadeus and Oracle, where they have a very significant market share,” he explains.
The company’s innovative software enables property managers to optimise their pricing strategies throughout the year, with the capability to adjust vacant room rates based on predicted demand. The system processes an impressive 300 million different travel and leisure market data points daily, offering unprecedented insight into market dynamics.
Despite posting a pre-tax loss of £3.9 million last year, KKR’s investment demonstrates strong confidence in Lighthouse’s potential to become a significant player in the £15 billion travel and hospitality technology market. The deal represents a major vote of confidence in British technology innovation and sets the stage for Lighthouse’s continued expansion in the global travel tech sector.
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