Travel tech startups got $2.2 billion in three quarters of 2026

Travel technology startups got $2.2 billion in 302 funding deals in the first three quarters of 2026, says Crunchbase. AI is in many of the top deals, but it has not stopped the fall in funding. Investors put more money into some companies, but the number of deals is on track to fall in a third year.

What is new

Mews, a hotel software firm in Amsterdam, got the top deal. It was $300 million in January, at a value of $2.5 billion. Mews plans to use AI agents (software that does tasks for the user) in its work. Amadeus and Expedia bought AI startups to add AI tools.

The numbers

Funding in the sector was more than $12 billion in 2021. The 2026 total is far below that. Navan, a business travel firm, has a share price up almost 60% this year.

What is not known

Crunchbase does not know if the AI change in travel causes the cut in funding. Skift says it is not possible to say at this time if this is a long change. The travel firm Klook withdrew its share sale in the US in October.

Insight: Older travel firms buy AI tools while investors step back

Investors fund some travel startups. In the same year Amadeus bought SkyLink and Expedia bought Layla, two AI startups. Gartner found that only 13% of firms see large AI results. This reads as a move of control. The buyer with customers, not the startup, can keep most of the AI profit. Founders must plan for a sale.