OpenAI Acquires AI Travel Agent Odessia, Shaking Up the Industry
In a move that sent shockwaves through the online travel industry, OpenAI has acquired Odessia, a pioneering AI-powered travel agent startup. Founder Francis Davidson, co-founder of hospitality company Sonder, announced the acquisition on November 10, 2026.
Davidson launched Odessia less than a year ago with the goal of building the world’s best AI travel agent. The acquisition signals that OpenAI is setting its sights firmly on the travel sector.
Odessia raised a $6 million pre-seed round led by Sequoia and attracted tens of thousands of early adopters during summer 2026. Travel planned through the platform was running at a rate of more than $60 million per year.
The startup’s IATA accreditation gave it access to private hotel rates and exclusive perks, including free breakfast and room upgrades—valuable assets now in OpenAI’s hands.
Following the acquisition, the standalone Odessia service has shut down. Davidson confirmed that he is joining OpenAI to “focus on the future of travel,” though the company has not yet announced any specific travel-focused products.
The news rattled traditional online travel agencies:
- Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) shares fell nearly 4%.
- Booking Holdings (BKNG) and Tripadvisor (TRIP) also saw notable stock declines.
Source: TechCrunch — OpenAI acquires Odessia, travel startup created by Sonder founder