Zimbabwe-based hotel booking platform Africabookings has raised US$25,000 in seed funding from the United States (US) Travel Startups Incubator in order to expand its online travel services across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africabookings, which already lists thousands of lodges and hotels in 19 countries, including the likes of South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Mauritius, aims to be the leading hotel wholesaler in Africa.
The funding from the Travel Startups Incubator, a Florida-based platform that invests exclusively in travel tech companies around the world, will assist Africabookings, which has been in operation for one year, with this growth.
“The support, mentorship and advice that we’ve received from Travel Startups Incubator has already helped us focus on business-critical aspects that ensure our successful growth,” said Africabookings chief executive officer (CEO) Bruce Tapping.
“The fact that we are based in Africa, and the importance of the online sphere to the emerging African travel industry, have helped us grow quickly and offer our travellers one of the most comprehensive travel services in this largely untouched part of the world.”
Africabookings aims to offer the best choice and rates in mid to high-end hotels, as well as for services in areas mostly untrodden by tourists, working closely with agents, hotels, and travel services to make local hotels more discoverable and accessible.
“Africa’s potential for growth in this industry is huge. From a regional travel perspective and international one, the demand for quality tourism destinations and services that offer more than a stereotypical safari is growing everyday,” said Travel Startups Incubator founder Matt Zito.
“The continent has cultural tourism, beautiful beaches, friendly people and easy access to European markets. As an incubator we are extremely excited to have Africabookings in our portfolio of startups leading the industry in this region.”
