Schmetterling

Name

Schmetterling

Legal name

Schmetterling International GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://schmetterling.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Distribution Software

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520), Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale Distribution Platforms & Switches (B2B Booking Engines/Marketplaces) (THAKAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commission, Incentives & Revenue Optimization (ARC/BSP, Overrides) (THALAGAI), B2B Agent/Partner Booking Portals (Extranet) (THALADAJ), Wholesale Groups, Series & Allotments (Group Blocks/Charters/Allotment Contracting) (THAKAJAH)

Keywords

• Travel distribution platform
• Travel agency software
• Travel technology solutions
• Airline consolidator services
• Travel marketing automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Obertrubach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Travel Agency Cooperation & Membership: Travel agencies join the Schmetterling network and pay membership fees to access better commission conditions from tour operators, bundled technology solutions, marketing support, and group purchasing power
2. Technology Licensing: SaaS licensing of integrated travel software packages (ARGUS, XENA, NEO, QUADRA, GO4IT) to partner travel agencies
3. Commission from Tour Operators: Schmetterling aggregates booking volume from partner agencies and negotiates improved commission rates from tour operators and travel suppliers
4. Insurance Brokerage: Travel insurance products offered through Schmetterling Versicherungsmakler to partner agencies and end customers
5. Flight Consolidator Services: Bulk airline ticket purchasing through Air Conso with NDC capabilities, resold to partner agencies
6. Group Travel Services: Organized group travel programs (2,3 butterfly brand for school trips) through tour operator partnerships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schmetterling International is a B2B travel distribution company that provides independent travel agencies with an integrated SaaS technology suite (ARGUS, XENA, NEO, QUADRA, GO4IT, KI-Pilot), aggregated commission conditions from tour operators, digital marketing automation, travel insurance brokerage, flight consolidation services, and group travel programs. The platform is sold primarily through a partner/cooperation membership model to over 4,000 travel agencies across 29 European countries, enabling them to operate more efficiently while maintaining their independence.

Product overview

Schmetterling operates as a B2B travel agency platform organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core software suite consists of four tightly integrated modules: ARGUS (mid/back-office CRM and process management), XENA (consultation and comparison/booking system with dynamic packaging), NEO (CRS for reservations), and QUADRA (travel agency website CMS). Additional add-on modules include the GO4IT digital marketing platform (social media, newsletters, automated emails), the KI-Pilot Agentic AI assistant (autonomous agent for offer preparation and customer communication), SKYBUTLER (NDC flight consolidator), CRUISEHOST (cruise advisory), the Provisionskompass/Provisions-Cockpit (commission analytics), Smart Booking, and Beds and More (hotel add-on). Supporting services include a Reise-Service-Center (fulfillment), a Versicherungsmakler (insurance), 2,3 butterfly (group travel sub-brand), and Air Conso/SKYBUTLER (flight consolidator). The platform is web-based, bundled through go-suite.com, and positions itself as a Full-Service-Technik offering for travel agencies across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schmetterling Technology: Full-service technology solutions for travel agencies including CRS, CMS, booking and consulting systems
• GO4IT
• KI-Pilot
• ARGUS
• XENA
• NEO
• QUADRA
• Skybutler
• Schmetterling Versicherungsmakler
• Schmetterling Reise-Service-Center
• Schmetterling Air Conso
• Schmetterling Gruppenreisen
• Schmetterling Vor9
• Schmetterling direkt
• 23butterfly
• YOUNGTALENTS

Products and services

• ARGUS Mid-office and back-office management system for travel agencies covering booking administration, customer relationship management, automated communication workflows, and commission tracking. Serves as the primary CRM and process orchestration layer for the Schmetterling platform.
• XENA Consultation and comparison system enabling travel advisors to search, compare, and generate travel offers across multiple suppliers. Includes dynamic packaging capabilities (XENA dynamic+) and the integrated Provisionskompass for commission visibility.
• NEO Computer Reservation System (CRS) providing flight, hotel, and package search and booking functionality. Integrated with DER Touristik's flight search interface for simplified booking workflows.
• QUADRA Content Management System (CMS) and website builder for travel agencies, enabling creation and management of professional travel agency websites with integrated booking capabilities.
• GO4IT Digital marketing platform for travel agencies providing omnichannel marketing automation including social media management, newsletter campaigns, website hosting, influencer marketing, automated email sequences, and integrated booking capabilities for car rentals, activities, and eSIMs.
• KI-Pilot (Agentic AI) Agentic AI assistant that autonomously handles travel agency workflows including customer inquiry processing, offer preparation, proposal generation, and automated email communication. Deeply integrated across ARGUS, XENA, and NEO. Marketed as the travel industry's first agentic AI solution.
• SKYBUTLER (Schmetterling Air Conso) Flight consolidator tool with NDC booking capabilities, enabling travel agencies to book and manage flight content through direct airline connections.
• Provisions-Cockpit (Commission Analytics) Commission tracking and analytics dashboard integrated into XENA (Provisionskompass as intuitive traffic-light system) and expanded as a standalone Provisions-Cockpit. Covers the full commission spectrum including packages, hotels, insurance, and side services, with an intelligent forecast function for revenue prediction.
• CRUISEHOST Cruise advisory and booking system with multiple modules (Cruise A for in-agency consultation, Cruise C for B2C customer website booking), integrated ship data, cabin selection, and direct online connection to 21 cruise lines.
• Reise-Service-Center Full-service fulfillment center handling booking processing, customer service, and administrative tasks on behalf of partner travel agencies.
• Schmetterling Versicherungsmakler (Insurance Brokerage) Insurance brokerage service under Schmetterling Versicherungsmakler, offering tailored insurance solutions for travel agencies, tour operators, and business protection.
• 2,3 butterfly (Group Travel) Group travel brand under Schmetterling Gruppenreisen, offering class trips and youth travel packages across European destinations with inclusive packages and educational components.
• Travel Agent Cards / Expedition Cards Card program providing benefits and discounts for travel agents and their clients, accessible through the expEDITOR platform.
• Smart Booking Simplified booking tool launched in October 2024 as part of the Schmetterling technology ecosystem, designed to streamline the booking process for travel agency users.
• XENA dynamic+ Dynamic packaging feature within the XENA system enabling travel advisors to build and package custom travel itineraries from multiple suppliers on a single platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ daily newsletter readers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TraSo GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 June 2026Schmetterling acquired TraSo GmbH, expanding technology capabilities for travel agency solutions. TraSo provides additional software solutions for the travel distribution ecosystem.
• Reisen AktuellminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 May 2026Tour operator added to Schmetterling sortiment, expanding range of travel products available to partner agencies.
• ASI ReisenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 February 2026Adventure and experiential travel operator added to product sortiment for partner agencies.
• HX Hurtigruten ExpeditionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 June 2025Expedition cruise operator added to sortiment. Schmetterling partners received exclusive Greenland infotrip with HX.
• CroisiEuropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 June 2025European river cruise operator added to product range for partner agencies.
• FTI Ticket Shop SystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 29 April 2025Acquisition of FTI ticket shop systems following FTI insolvency, expanding technology infrastructure for partner agencies.
• RateHawkcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 March 2025Strategic partnership with B2B booking platform RateHawk providing hotel inventory and booking capabilities integrated into Schmetterling systems.
• NezasacoreTechnology or Integration · 12 February 2025Distribution and technology partnership for trip planning and booking solutions integrated with ARGUS system.
• GPTA e.V.coreOthers · 3 November 2022Schmetterling is the first sponsor member of GPTA (Global Partnership for Travel Agencies), supporting independent travel agency distribution networks.
• TUIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor tour operator partner with improved commission conditions for 2024/2025. TUI sponsored annual conferences and exclusive events.
• schauinsland-reisencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey tour operator partner supporting events and acquiring Explorer Fernreisen. Regular presence in Schmetterling direkt format.
• DER TouristikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor tour operator group with integrated flight search in NEO CRS system.
• Sunny CarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar rental partner integrated into GO4IT for automated rental offers.
• SunTripsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour operator partner in joint offensive campaign for future of travel agencies.
• nicko cruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRiver cruise partner with exclusive infotrips on Danube and Rhone rivers.
• AIDA CruisesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cruise line partner with exclusive ship visits and event sponsorships.
• AmadeuscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology integration with Amadeus for CRS and booking system connectivity. Schmetterling ARGUS uses Amadeus technology.
• AirbnbminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlternative accommodation provider discussed at industry summits.
• TrainlineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRail booking platform discussed at ECTAA Distribution Summit.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RateHawk (Emerging Travel Group): RateHawk is a B2B travel accommodation platform that just entered a strategic partnership with Schmetterling, illustrating how it competes for the same independent agency distribution channel with similar booking and content-aggregation economics.
• Amadeus: Amadeus is the leading European GDS provider whose technology Schmetterling's ARGUS system is built on. It competes directly in CRS, mid/back-office, and travel agency software, making it the most comparable direct peer despite also being a strategic integration partner.
• Hotelbeds: Hotelbeds is a leading B2B bed bank and ancillary platform serving travel agents with hotel and additional travel content, comparable to Schmetterling's commission aggregation and NDC-enabled ancillary role for partner agencies.
• Travelport (now part of PE/Clipper acquisition): Travelport is a global GDS and travel commerce platform offering CRS, mid-office, and agency technology comparable to Schmetterling's NEO, ARGUS, and XENA stack. Both serve travel retailers with booking, content aggregation, and agency software.
• Sabre Corporation: Sabre provides GDS, agency software, and travel technology directly comparable to the Schmetterling platform, including CRS, mid-back office, and content APIs targeting travel agencies worldwide.
• TBO (Travel Boutique Online): TBO is a B2B travel distribution platform offering hotels, flights, and packages to travel agents globally, integrated into the Schmetterling stack. Comparable as an aggregator/dealer targeting independent agents across multiple geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Booking.com for Travel Agents: Booking.com is a global OTA giant that also offers agent-facing products (Booking.com for Travel Agents), representing a broad incumbent that competes for the same consumer travel spend Schmetterling's partner agencies monetize.
• Expedia Partner Solutions: Expedia Partner Solutions powers B2B travel distribution globally, offering inventory APIs to OTAs and airlines. It overlaps with Schmetterling's NEO CRS and RateHawk/TBO integrations, competing for the same agency-tech wallet.
• TUI Group: TUI is a core Schmetterling supplier and a vertically integrated tour operator/airline/hotel group that also distributes through its own agency network and direct channels, representing the leading incumbent tour distribution company in Europe.
• DER Touristik: DER Touristik is both a major Schmetterling tour operator partner and a vertically integrated travel distributor with proprietary agency and direct channels. Comparable as a Europe-centric tour distribution group with overlapping customer and supplier base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@schmetterling
• Facebookfacebook.com/schmetterling.international
• Instagraminstagram.com/schmetterling.de
• Xx.com/wultschi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schmetterling-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schmetterling