HotelPlanner.com
HotelPlanner.com operates an AI-powered group hotel booking marketplace serving consumers, enterprises, sports teams, universities, and government agencies across 250,000+ hotels globally, earning 7-10% referral commissions on bookings facilitated through its Reservations.ai platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersPalm Beach, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What HotelPlanner.com does
HotelPlanner.com, operating under the legal entity Lexyl Travel Technologies, LLC, is a global group hotel booking marketplace founded in 2003 by Tim Hentschel and John Prince and headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with regional hubs in London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. The core product is an auction-style booking engine covering 250,000+ hotels, where group bookers (5+ rooms per night) trigger competitive bids from sales managers and receive guaranteed lowest rates; the company claims to be one of the largest sellers of group hotel rooms globally, backed by a 7,000+ gig-economy call center and a worldwide team of local destination experts. The platform serves a long tail of individual travelers as well as enterprise and institutional segments including professional and collegiate sports teams, 500+ universities, government agencies (e.g., the State of Louisiana), associations, conferences, weddings, and corporate clients, with discounts for AAA, AARP/senior, and military/government travelers.
The company's technology stack is anchored by Reservations.ai, a conversational and voice AI booking layer that handles over 40% of bookings and over 250,000 customer interactions per day across voice and text, including the world's first end-to-end global team of voice AI hotel reservationists with access to 1M+ properties. Additional products include TicketPlanner (a May 2026 launch into live entertainment ticketing), Meetings.com (event space RFP), AI Booking Agents, and group/event services modules, plus acquired brands Eventsquid (event registration, 2023), TravelMole (travel industry media, 2024), and PetsWelcome.com (pet-friendly accommodations, 2024). Patent-pending group-booking auction technology and white-label API integrations with partners such as SportsEngine, Let's Do This, Nextech3D.ai, and Trinity Investments extend the platform into partner ecosystems.
Revenue is generated almost entirely on a transaction-fee basis: preferred hotels pay a 7% referral commission while standard hotels pay 10% on bookings (including those generated from free bid requests), and travel agents earn a 10% commission on group bookings paid monthly one month after the hotel remits. Gross booking value supported by the ecosystem is reported at approximately $4 billion annually as of 2026, with $2B+ in projected hotel sales for 2025. The company generates revenue through both direct-to-consumer (hotelplanner.com, Reservations.ai, mobile) and B2B distribution (enterprise field sales for sports, university and government accounts, travel agent channel, gig call center, and API/embedded partnerships). It has not disclosed external institutional funding, and co-CEO Tim Hentschel indicated in October 2024 that the company was "eyeing an IPO," though no listing has been announced.
HotelPlanner.com firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HotelPlanner.com
- Legal name
- Lexyl Travel Technologies, LLC
- Website
- https://hotelplanner.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- HotelPlanner.com operates an AI-powered group hotel booking marketplace serving consumers, enterprises, sports teams, universities, and government agencies across 250,000+ hotels globally, earning 7-10% referral commissions on bookings facilitated through its Reservations.ai platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HotelPlanner.com industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Travel Agency / Group Hotel Booking Marketplace
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C) (THALAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accommodation-Focused OTAs (Hotels & Alternative Stays) (THAKAAAB)
Keywords
Where HotelPlanner.com is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palm Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
HotelPlanner.com business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hotel Commission (Referral Fees): Hotels pay commission (7-10%) on bookings generated through the platform. Preferred membership program hotels pay 7% commission, while standard hotels pay 10% on bookings including those generated from free bid requests.
- Travel Agent Commission: Travel agencies earn 10% commission on group hotel bookings made through the platform. Commission is paid monthly, one month after the hotel remits payment to HotelPlanner.
- AI Booking Platform Services: Reservations.ai platform drives significant growth contributing to 351% increase since 2022 and over $2 billion in projected hotel sales for 2025. Platform accounts for over 40% of all HotelPlanner bookings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Traveler Discounts |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Travel Agent Commission |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Hotel Referral Commission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Bookings (5+ rooms) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
HotelPlanner.com product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HotelPlanner.com operates a commission-based online marketplace that connects travelers seeking group hotel accommodations (5+ rooms) with hotels worldwide through patent-pending bidding technology where hotel sales managers directly compete to win group business. The platform gives access to 250,000+ properties globally and supports both consumer individual bookings (with AAA, senior, and military discounts) and dedicated B2B group sales for 500+ universities, professional sports leagues, government agencies, and major associations. The Reservations.ai conversational AI platform handles more than 250,000 customer interactions per day and accounts for over 40% of all bookings.
Product overview
HotelPlanner operates as a multi-product travel technology platform organized around a core hotel booking engine plus several distinct sub-products and acquired brands. The flagship product, HotelPlanner.com, is a group hotel booking marketplace (auction-based, 5+ rooms) covering 250,000+ hotels with guaranteed lowest group rates, supported by a gig-economy call center and AI reservation agents. Adjacent to the core platform, Reservations.ai serves as HotelPlanner's AI-powered conversational booking layer (voice + text), handling over 40% of bookings and accounting for the company's major growth surge. TicketPlanner extends the platform into live entertainment ticketing (sports, concerts, theater) with AI-powered personalization. Group travel is further supported by dedicated modules for Meeting Space search, Event Services (conferences, weddings, sports teams), and RFP tools. HotelPlanner Tour Golf and HotelPlanner Tour Tennis are sub-brand sponsorships in professional developmental sports. The portfolio is augmented by acquired brands: Eventsquid (event registration) and PetsWelcome.com (pet-friendly accommodations).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HotelPlanner Tour Golf: International golf tournament circuit (formerly Challenge Tour) sponsored by HotelPlanner, distributing over €9 million in annual prize funds across 19 countries in 2026.
- HotelPlanner Tour Tennis
Products and services
- HotelPlanner.com Core Platform Online travel marketplace that connects travelers seeking group hotel accommodations (5+ rooms) with hotels worldwide, featuring patent-pending bidding technology where hotel sales managers directly compete to win group business. Gives access to 250,000+ properties globally and supports both consumer individual bookings (with AAA, senior, and military discounts) and dedicated B2B group sales for 500+ universities, professional sports leagues, government agencies, and major associations.
- Reservations.ai Proprietary AI-powered hotel booking platform that handles voice, chat, and text bookings across multiple languages; serves more than 1 million properties via Expedia/Priceline/Kayak API integrations and accounts for over 40% of HotelPlanner.com's bookings. Available to consumers, enterprise groups, and white-label API partners (e.g., SportsEngine, Let's Do This, Nextech3D.ai).
- TicketPlanner Live entertainment and event ticketing platform launched as an extension of the HotelPlanner.com portfolio, offering ticketing services for concerts, sports, theater, and live events.
- Eventsquid Event registration and management software platform that became part of HotelPlanner's portfolio and is offered alongside the core hotel booking and ticketing products for organizations running events.
- PetsWelcome.com Pet-friendly hotel directory and booking brand added to the HotelPlanner portfolio, allowing travelers to search and reserve accommodations that accept pets.
Quantifiable outcome
- 351% revenue growth since 2022
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use HotelPlanner.com
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
HotelPlanner.com technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability10 records
Feature4 records
HotelPlanner.com partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Reservations.aicoreReservations.ai launched early beta access to its conversational AI booking platform built on HotelPlanner's global reservation ecosystem. The platform supports nearly $4 billion in gross booking value with approximately 70% annual growth over the last three years. HotelPlanner's AI agents handle more than 250,000 customer interactions per day.
- Trinity InvestmentscoreTrinity Investments, a private real estate investment firm focused on hotels and resorts, partnered with HotelPlanner for strategic distribution. Trinity's hotel and resort portfolio leverages HotelPlanner's AI-powered reservation agents, gig-economy reservations network, and group sales technology to drive bookings and direct-to-consumer experiences.
- TicketPlannercoreHotelPlanner launched TicketPlanner as a next-generation live entertainment ticketing platform. The platform differentiates through customer-first service, competitive pricing, travel integration, and AI-powered personalization, leveraging HotelPlanner's existing proprietary technology infrastructure.
- Major League Table Tennis (MLTT)coreHotelPlanner named Official Online Booking Platform Partner of MLTT, providing athletes, staff, and fans access to discounted hotel rates up to 70% and travel planning tools across MLTT's national event calendar. Partnership supports MLTT's expansion into its third season.
- Boodles Tennis TournamentminorHotelPlanner announced partnership with The Boodles Tennis Tournament held annually at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, England. Partnership involves ensuring accommodation for players and attendees and expands HotelPlanner's involvement in tennis through sponsorships and collaborations with the Lawn Tennis Association.
- PetsWelcome.comminorHotelPlanner acquired PetsWelcome.com, a pet-friendly accommodations platform founded in 1997. Acquisition aims to enhance HotelPlanner's offerings for pet owners and integrate PetsWelcome.com's directory of pet-friendly travel resources.
- TravelMoleminorHotelPlanner acquired travel industry news platform TravelMole to expand its global reach and diversify content offerings. The deal aims to strengthen HotelPlanner's position in the hospitality industry by integrating TravelMole's industry analysis, data, and network.
- EventsquidminorHotelPlanner acquired Eventsquid, a platform specializing in event registration, which continues operating as an independent brand under HotelPlanner. Acquisition aims to enhance HotelPlanner's service offerings to corporate and association clients.
- UTR SportscoreHotelPlanner partnered with UTR Sports as Official Affiliate Partner, bringing travel benefits and savings to the entire UTR community of tennis players and enthusiasts.
- Association of Pickleball PlayersminorHotelPlanner named official online booking platform partner of Association of Pickleball Players.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
HotelPlanner.com competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Groups360: Direct competitor focused exclusively on group hotel booking technology for meetings, events, and conferences. Closest head-to-head rival to HotelPlanner's core 5+ room group auction platform, serving similar corporate and association customers.
- HRS Group: Corporate hotel booking platform specializing in group, meeting, and transient corporate travel across Europe and globally. Operates a similar hybrid B2B/B2B2C model with corporate clients and meeting organizers comparable to HotelPlanner's enterprise segment.
- Cvent: Leading event and meeting management platform with deep group hotel booking and RFP capabilities. Directly comparable to HotelPlanner's conference, association, and corporate meeting group booking workflows, including the Eventsquid asset's competitive set.
Broad incumbents
- Booking.com: Largest global OTA and a backend inventory partner to HotelPlanner for individual bookings. Competes in accommodations broadly and increasingly in groups/events, but operates at vastly greater scale across leisure and corporate segments.
- Expedia Group: Global OTA conglomerate (Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo) and one of HotelPlanner's primary OTA API partners. Overlaps in hotel booking broadly and in group travel through Egencia and Expedia Group's meeting tools, with far larger marketing scale.
- Hotels.com: Mass-market hotel booking brand within Expedia Group, integrated into HotelPlanner's OTA aggregation. Competes in individual hotel bookings with comparable discount structures (e.g., member pricing).
- Priceline: Discount-oriented OTA in the Booking Holdings portfolio. Provides individual hotel inventory to HotelPlanner via API and competes in opaque/group deals through Express Deals and group booking tools.
- Trip.com Group: Asia-headquartered global OTA operating Trip.com, Ctrip, and Skyscanner. Comparable travel platform competing in hotel bookings globally, especially relevant to HotelPlanner's Asia-Pacific expansion (Singapore HQ).
Emerging players
- HotelEngine: Digital travel platform focused on group and extended-stay bookings for businesses and teams. Competes in the same corporate/SMB group hotel booking niche that HotelPlanner addresses through enterprise sales and travel agent channels.
- Eventbrite: Event ticketing and registration platform that overlaps with HotelPlanner's Eventsquid acquisition and group event services. Increasingly adjacent as HotelPlanner extends into ticketing via TicketPlanner and partnerships with event platforms like Let's Do This.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HotelPlanner.com social profiles
Digital presenceHotelPlanner.com compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
HotelPlanner.com financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HotelPlanner.com leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
HotelPlanner.com subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
HotelPlanner.com funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HotelPlanner.com M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A10 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HotelPlanner.com
What does HotelPlanner.com do?
HotelPlanner.com operates a commission-based online marketplace that connects travelers seeking group hotel accommodations (5+ rooms) with hotels worldwide through patent-pending bidding technology where hotel sales managers directly compete to win group business. The platform gives access to 250,000+ properties globally and supports both consumer individual bookings (with AAA, senior, and military discounts) and dedicated B2B group sales for 500+ universities, professional sports leagues, government agencies, and major associations. The Reservations.ai conversational AI platform handles more than 250,000 customer interactions per day and accounts for over 40% of all bookings.
Is HotelPlanner.com a public or private company?
HotelPlanner.com is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HotelPlanner.com founded?
HotelPlanner.com was founded in 2003. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is HotelPlanner.com based?
HotelPlanner.com is headquartered in Palm Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does HotelPlanner.com make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hotel Commission (Referral Fees) is the primary driver. The others are travel Agent Commission and AI Booking Platform Services.
Who are HotelPlanner.com's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Groups360, HRS Group and Cvent. Broad incumbents are Booking.com, Expedia Group, Hotels.com, Priceline and Trip.com Group. Emerging players are HotelEngine and Eventbrite.
Does HotelPlanner.com have an API?
Yes. For individual bookings (fewer than 9 rooms per night), HotelPlanner operates as a marketplace middleware, connecting end-users to online travel agency (OTA) partners via API. These API connections enable HotelPlanner to aggregate and display inventory from Expedia, Priceline, and Kayak for individual consumer reservations, while the core group booking functionality (5+ rooms) is handled directly on HotelPlanner's own platform. No public-facing developer API or SDK is offered.
What industry is HotelPlanner.com in?
HotelPlanner.com's product category is Online Travel Agency / Group Hotel Booking Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THALAMAA, Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C), with a secondary code of THAKAAAB, Accommodation-Focused OTAs (Hotels & Alternative Stays). Its NAICS code is 561510 and its SIC code is 7000.