Despegar CEO Plans to Triple Business Size in Three Years
The travel agency plans to invest $100 million annually in AI to triple its size. Growth will be led by integration with the popular Brazilian iFood platform.
The online travel agency Despegar has announced an ambitious strategy to triple its transaction volume and operations over the next three to four years. According to newly-appointed CEO Gonzalo Estebarena, the expansion will be fueled by a $100 million annual investment in technology, with a primary focus on artificial intelligence and deepening market penetration across Latin America.
The company, which was acquired last year for approximately $1.7 billion by the Netherlands-based technology investor PROSUS NV, is transitioning toward a more aggressive growth phase. Estebarena, who previously served as the firm's chief technology officer, emphasized that the proposed growth rate represents a significant acceleration compared to the previous decade.
