Booking.com Quiz: What You Don’t Know Yet

Booking.com's story started in Europe, where a small startup focused on helping travellers find and book hotel rooms online. The company quickly gained traction in its home market before catching the attention of larger global players. Its country of origin played a key role in shaping its early growth and reach.

In 2005, Bookings.nl was acquired by one of the largest travel companies in the world at the time. The acquisition proved to be a turning point, as it provided the resources and scale needed to expand internationally. This deal is now considered one of the most valuable acquisitions in internet history.

Booking.com sits at the centre of a large travel technology group that owns several well-known platforms, including a popular restaurant reservation service and a leading car rental site. The parent company operates across multiple segments of the travel industry and is publicly listed on a major US stock exchange.

Active Hotels was a UK-based hotel booking company that was acquired and later merged with Bookings.nl to form the platform we know today. Following the consolidation of the two businesses, the combined entity officially adopted a new name, marking the beginning of Booking.com as a unified global brand.

Before its European acquisitions, the Priceline Group was under financial pressure and reporting losses. The company had built its reputation on a unique pricing model but was struggling to grow profitably. The acquisitions of European hotel booking platforms later turned its fortunes around in a remarkable way.