End of an era for Atrápalo. The Ávoris group, owned by Barceló, announced this Thursday an agreement to buy 100% of the online travel and leisure platform. The operation is subject to approval by the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) and is part of the hotel company’s growth strategy to strengthen its position in the online travel agency business. Neither party has made the purchase amount public.
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Currently, Ávoris has a network of physical agencies and tour operators, in addition to the brands Muchoviaje and TuBillete.com for the digital segment. “The integration will allow for synergies in distribution, digital marketing, inventory management and technological development, as well as expanding the offer available to customers of both companies,” the company explained in a statement.
Ávoris has a network of physical agencies, tour operators and the digital brands Muchoviaje and TuBillete.com
Atrápalo was founded in Barcelona in 2000, when online travel agencies were just beginning to become popular. Over time, the Catalan company incorporated bookings for hotels, flights, getaways, tickets and leisure plans. The company operates in Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
In 2024, Atrápalo founders Manuel Roca, Nacho Giral and Nacho Sala stepped aside and disassociated themselves from the company. Their departure came shortly after recovering growth after their business took a hard hit during the pandemic. Management then fell to Luis Alonso, who is still the current CEO.
In its latest accounts filed with the Commercial Registry, from 2024, Atrápalo achieved a turnover of almost 98 million euros. Its profit was close to 200,000 euros, after losing more than 2.6 million in 2020 due to covid. These same accounts showed a staff of 132 employees.
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This operation adds to the launch of Welcometickets by Ávoris, to strengthen this segment of ticket sales, activities and leisure experiences. With the incorporation of Atrápalo, the group also expects to expand its presence in Latin American markets.
“It represents an operation of enormous strategic value for our group. It brings talent, digital capability, customer knowledge and a solid international presence that perfectly complements our strengths,” said Ávoris Executive President, Vicente Fenollar.
Alonso stated that Atrápalo “is starting a new phase” and admits that being part of a larger group will give them access “to new capabilities, resources and development opportunities, while keeping our identity intact.” The operation takes place in a context of growth in online agencies, greater demand for experiences from travelers, and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in their business.
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