Fortino Capital exits Stardekk, a preferred provider of channel management and distribution software for independent hotels, to Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight).
Fortino Capital exits Stardekk, a preferred provider of channel management and distribution software for independent hotels, to Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight).
Bruges, Belgium – Feb. 15, 2024 – Stardekk, a preferred provider of channel management and distribution software for independent hotels, today announced it has joined Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight), the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. This move represents another advancement in both firms’ commitment to empowering hospitality commercial teams with a single platform to drive revenue growth. Fortino Capital, a European B2B software investor, has been the growth equity partner of Stardekk since 2020.
The Stardekk team and product capabilities, including the Cubilis channel management solution, will continue to exist and expand. The combined platform will merge Lighthouse's data insights and artificial intelligence with Stardekk's distribution tool set, offering hoteliers unprecedented dynamic channel optimisation. The combined offering will streamline real-time decision-making in a rapidly evolving market, particularly benefiting independent hotels by providing advanced distribution tools and pricing insights for superior competitive performance.
"We are delighted to welcome Stardekk to our team" says Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of Lighthouse. "Their innovative solutions and team complement our mission to reimagine commercial strategy for the hospitality industry. Together, we will deliver unmatched value to independent hoteliers through the combination of better data, better automation, and dynamic distribution.”
Vincent Goemaere, founder and CEO of Stardekk, comments: "Grateful for the collaboration with our former investor Fortino, we are very proud to be joining forces with Lighthouse, which marks a significant milestone in our journey. We have always been dedicated to empowering hoteliers with easy to use, powerful tools. This next stage of growth not only aligns with our vision but also expands our joint capabilities, offering immense value to independent hoteliers who need to stay competitive in fast changing markets, by driving revenue and profitability. The potential we can unlock together is incredibly exciting.”
Focus on independent hotels
While the Lighthouse platform serves travel and hospitality businesses of all sizes, from independents to the largest global chains, this merger specifically targets the underserved sector of independent hotels. “Our ideal customer profile for this solution is independent hoteliers who are underserved by current technology providers," added Fitzpatrick.
Addressing market fragmentation
The hotel industry has long been hampered by a fragmented approach to pricing, promotion, and distribution, often leaving independent hoteliers at a disadvantage with disjointed data and systems. By joining forces, Stardekk and Lighthouse aim to bridge these gaps, offering an intelligent channel management solution for independent hotels that combines dynamic pricing optimization and distribution decisions in a single platform, driving top-line revenue growth and profitability.
Harnessing the power of AI and automation
With a unique understanding of the challenges faced by independents in an increasingly complex distribution landscape, the combined forces of Stardekk and Lighthouse will deliver an industry-first solution. Independent hotels often lack the time, data, and budgets to compete with larger chains. This partnership will combine the expertise of Stardekk and Lighthouse in their use of data, AI algorithms, and automation to offer hoteliers unprecedented capabilities to more effectively and efficiently optimize their commercial strategies.
A shared vision for hoteliers
Together, Stardekk and Lighthouse are poised to redefine the distribution landscape for independent hoteliers worldwide, ushering in a new era of innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness. It's a move that promises to level the playing field in a rapidly changing market.
About Lighthouse
Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. They transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. Lighthouse continually innovates to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways. Trusted by over 65,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform.
About Stardekk
Stardekk is a provider of innovative hotel software with over 22 years' experience and more than 3,000 customers in 55 countries. More bookings, less administration. That's what Stardekk is all about. Stardekk offers an affordable all-in-one solution for hotels, B&Bs and short term rentals to save time, maximize revenue and provide guests with a seamless experience , from online search to long after check-out. The powerful Cubilis Channel Manager, featuring best-of-class partnerships with Google, Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia, serves as the engine that drives hoteliers' online distribution.
About Fortino Capital
Fortino Capital is a European investment company with a focus on high-growth B2B software solutions managing two private equity funds and two venture capital funds. With offices in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Fortino backs exceptional and ambitious entrepreneurs in Europe.
