Secret Escapes
{{Short description|Travel website}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Secret Escapes
| logo = Secret Escapes Logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| industry = Travel
| founded = {{Start date and age|2010}}
| key_people = Tom Valentine
Alex Saint
Alliott Cole
Benjamin Holmes
Laurent Laffy
Thomas Hulme
Eirik Pettersen
| services = Flash deals
| num_employees = 400+
| location_city = London
| location_country = United Kingdom
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.secretescapes.com}}
}}
Secret Escapes is a members-only British travel company selling heavily discounted luxury hotel stays and trips through its website and mobile app.
Secret Escapes operates in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.
History
Secret Escapes was formerly called DMC Cruise Limited until 16 Nov 2010{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07026107|title=SECRET ESCAPES LIMITED – Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-07-11}} when it was re-branded as Secret Escapes by Tom Valentine and Alex Saint,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10405564/Secret-Escapes-needed-customers-before-it-had-a-product.html| title=Secret Escapes needed customers before it had a product}} after identifying a demand in luxury travel deals in the UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/the-secret-escapes-nerds-who-found-success-with-hotel-luxury-on-cheap-8894052.html| title=The Secret Escapes 'nerds' who found success with hotel luxury on cheap }}
In 2014, the company acquired the German mobile hotel booking application Justbook to compete with other last minute hotel mobile apps.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/15/luxury-travel-site-secret-escapes-buys-germanys-justbook-to-square-up-to-jetsetter-and-hotel-tonight/| title=Luxury Travel Site Secret Escapes Buys Germany's JustBook To Square Up To Jetsetter And Hotel Tonight }}
In July 2015 the company secured an additional $60m in funding from existing investor Octopus Investments as well as Google Ventures to fund further expansion and acquired UK based mycityvenue in an all-cash-and-stock deal, adding another 1200 venues and 1.4 million members to its portfolio.[http://www.cityam.com/220937/secret-escapes-gets-60m-google-ventures-backing-global-expansion City A.M.], 26 July 2015[https://techcrunch.com/2015/07/26/google-ventures-joins-60m-round-for-members-only-travel-site-secret-escapes/ TechCrunch], 26 July 2015[http://fortune.com/2014/07/25/term-sheet-friday-july-25/ Fortune Term Sheet], 24 July 2015[https://techcrunch.com/2014/07/24/secret-acquisition/ TechCrunch], 25 July
According to IBT, the company has over 19 million members and has sold 2 million room nights.{{cite web|last1=Sembhy|first1=Ravender|title=Google invests in Secret Escapes as online travel firm secures $60m funding|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/google-invests-secret-escapes-online-travel-firm-secures-60m-funding-1512435|website=IBT}}
In October 2015, Secret Escapes continued its expansion in Germany by acquiring flash deal site Travista.{{Cite web|title = Google-backed luxury-trip site Secret Escapes buys german rival|url = http://hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/google_backed_luxury_trip_site_secret_escapes_buys_german_rival|website = hotelmarketing.com|accessdate = 2015-10-06}}
In 2017, Secret Escapes acquired Slevomat Group, Central and Eastern Europe's leading travel deals and experience company.{{Cite web|title = Secret Escapes acquires Slevomat Group to become biggest travel player in Central and Eastern Europe|url = https://londonlovesbusiness.com/secret-escapes-acquires-slevomat-group-to-become-biggest-travel-player-in-central-and-eastern-europe/|accessdate = 2019-12-27}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.secretescapes.com Official website]
Category:British travel websites
Category:British companies established in 2010
Category:Transport companies established in 2010
Category:Internet properties established in 2010
Category:Hospitality companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Internet technology companies of the United Kingdom