Klook eyes $500M U.S. IPO amid market rebound
Klook has hired Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan to work on a potential U.S. initial public offering that could raise about $500 million, according to people familiar with the matter. The Hong Kong-based travel booking platform, backed by SoftBank and Goldman Sachs, is considering a debut as early as this year, though timing and deal size remain dependent on market conditions. Recent IPO activity has picked up in the U.S., with listings like Bullish and Figma signaling a more favorable environment after earlier uncertainty tied to U.S. trade policies.
It remains unclear whether Klook’s IPO will involve issuing new shares, an investor sell-down, or both. Neither Klook nor the banks involved have commented on the matter.
Agoda sharpens travel listings with AI-powered image upgrade
Agoda has rolled out a new AI-driven Content Enhancement Tool designed to improve how property images are displayed across its platform. With more than 6 million listings and 450 million images, the tool automatically detects and upgrades low-resolution photos, removes duplicates, improves tagging, and ranks images by clarity and relevance. The aim is to provide travelers with sharper, more authentic visuals.
Agoda’s CTO, Idan Zalzberg, said that “photos are essential to building trust when booking travel,” noting that clearer, more accurate images help customers book with confidence. Early results show travellers are spending more time browsing, engaging with more photos, and moving more quickly to check room details. By applying AI and machine learning at scale, Agoda hopes to give users “additional confidence” and a more seamless booking experience.
United takes Kiwi.com to court over unauthorised ticket sales
United Airlines has filed a lawsuit against Kiwi.com in the Illinois Northern District Court, accusing the online travel agency of trademark infringement and deceptive practices. The airline claims Kiwi.com has been selling United flights without authorisation, using fake email addresses and payment details to bypass its systems, and charging customers excessive fees for services United offers at lower or no cost.
Kiwi.com said it was “shocked and surprised” by the lawsuit, emphasising that it provides transparent pricing with clear breakdowns of airline fares and its own service fees. This marks yet another legal clash for Kiwi.com, which previously faced lawsuits from American Airlines and Southwest Airlines over similar unauthorised sales and deceptive booking practices.
Saudi Arabia’s Gathern secures $72M to fuel expansion and IPO plans
Riyadh-based vacation rental platform Gathern has raised $72 million in a Series B round, led by Sanabil Investments with participation from Endeavor, Pinnacle, Nuwa Capital, and STV. The funding brings the company’s valuation to about $266 million and supports its ambitions to list on the Saudi Exchange. Gathern said the investment will drive local and regional expansion, attract inbound visitors, grow long-term stay options, and integrate AI solutions into its platform.
The company, which holds a 44% market share in Saudi Arabia’s alternative hospitality sector, currently offers over 72,000 listings including villas, apartments, farms, chalets, resorts, and camps. With more than 5 million users to date, Gathern highlighted its role in supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by developing the Kingdom into a global tourism hub.
Yatra unveils DIYA, an AI travel assistant for smarter bookings
India-based online travel agency Yatra has introduced an AI-powered assistant named DIYA (Digital Intelligent Yatra Advisor) to guide travellers through the entire booking journey, from inspiration to post-trip support. Now live on Yatra’s website, the tool can plan full itineraries in a single query, perform image-based searches, handle cancellations, generate e-tickets, and more. DIYA is voice-enabled, supports over 100 languages, and is available to both guest users and members.
The launch follows Yatra’s broader push into AI-driven services, including an expense management solution with generative AI-powered receipt parsing and ERP integration. DIYA’s debut also comes just after rival OTA MakeMyTrip upgraded its own AI assistant, intensifying competition in India’s travel tech landscape.
