Airbnb to Buy HotelTonight in Its Biggest Acquisition Yet

  • Startup for last-minute room deals abandons IPO plans
  • Move boosts listings on Airbnb ahead of its own market debut
Photographer: Tim Rue/Bloomberg
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Airbnb Inc. agreed to buy HotelTonight, its biggest acquisition yet, in a move to increase hotel listings on the site ahead of an eventual initial public offering for the home-sharing startup.

Airbnb declined to disclose financial terms of the deal, but a person familiar with the matter said the price is close to HotelTonight’s last private valuation. A venture capital deal two years ago valued HotelTonight at $463 million, according to PitchBook Data, a market research firm. In early 2017, Airbnb acquired Luxury Retreats for about $300 million, its largest purchase at the time.