In an industry long dominated by traditional payment systems, Travala has been at the forefront, disrupting travel bookings with blockchain technology and cryptocurrency payments. Founded in 2017, the site set out to revolutionize how people pay for travel accommodations, flights, and activities by offering seamless crypto payments alongside traditional payments. While presented with the challenge of linking Web3 to a centuries-old industry, Travala has emerged as a global powerhouse with millions of bookings on its record while driving mass adoption of cryptocurrencies. In this interview, we explore the history of the company, the barriers it has overcome, and what it sees as the future of travel fueled by cryptocurrency.

What inspired the creation of the platform in 2017?

Travala was founded in 2017 with a mission to revolutionise the travel industry by integrating blockchain technology and cryptocurrency payments. Our vision is to democratise online travel bookings, enhancing accessibility for users worldwide. The idea was born from a passion for both blockchain technology and travel. We saw an opportunity to merge the two and create a seamless, innovative experience for travellers worldwide.

As a pioneer in this field, was it complicated to establish a crypto-based travel agency in an industry that hasn’t seen significant changes in the last decade since the Airbnb revolution?

Establishing a crypto-native travel booking platform hasn’t been without its challenges, but it’s been an extremely rewarding experience—one we felt necessary to undertake in the name of progress. The travel industry is deeply entrenched in traditional systems and processes, and the early days were especially difficult when cryptocurrencies were still in their relative infancy with outdated stigmas attached to them. However, we recognised the transformative potential of crypto and worked to build partnerships with suppliers worldwide. Today, Travala offers over 3,000,000 hotels, flights, and activities globally, all payable with more than 100 cryptocurrencies, making the process of overcoming the hurdles along the way well worth it to drive further innovation in the travel industry.

Can you share some major challenges you faced in the process of becoming the number one booking platform using crypto?

Some major challenges included:

Crypto Perception: The lack of understanding surrounding cryptocurrency and blockchain technology meant that we were pioneering partnerships to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3 in the travel industry, effectively paving our own way.

Technical Integration: To achieve our mission, we had to build a robust platform capable of communicating with traditional travel systems while handling both crypto and traditional payments.

Processes Development: Travel bookings involve greater complexity than most e-commerce purchases, so establishing processes specific to crypto payments like booking confirmations, changes, cancellations, and refunds all required novel approaches.

Despite these hurdles, our experienced team and shared commitment to innovation helped us overcome all of these obstacles.

Why did Travala choose to adopt crypto in its early stages?

Travala was built as a crypto-first platform because of cryptocurrency’s potential to provide cheaper cross-border payments, introduce more flexible crypto-based rewards, and enable financial inclusion for a wider demographic of travellers beyond the reach of traditional finance. Blockchain technology aligns perfectly with the ethos of decentralisation and accessibility that we wanted to bring to the travel industry, so adopting cryptocurrency payments was a natural fit.

Additionally, it provided an opportunity to offer travellers a new type of travel loyalty experience. Thanks to our partnership with the AVA Foundation, the AVA Smart Program was created, which offers crypto rewards on bookings instead of traditional points, enabling members to receive up to 10% back of every booking in Bitcoin or AVA. The program also provides other perks, such as travel discounts, airdrops, and more.

Can you walk us through the process of booking a trip using crypto in its early stages?

Users can book over 3,000,000 flights, accommodations, and activities by browsing travel products and selecting their desired options like any other online travel agency. At the payment stage, users can select any of the 100+ supported cryptocurrencies, including popular choices like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), USDT, USDC and Travala’s native AVA token.

Then, users simply scan a QR code or copy the wallet address to complete the transfer from their own wallet or use cryptocurrencies that have already been transferred to their account wallet. The process is designed to be as seamless as traditional payment methods for users who have basic knowledge of digital wallets for transactions. For those new to crypto, Travala also offers the option to pay with credit cards and receive crypto rewards, ensuring accessibility for all travellers.

How large is your company today?

Travala has experienced significant growth since its inception, and in 2024, we recorded over $100 million in gross revenue for the year. Our offerings have expanded considerably thanks to integrations with major platforms, including Trivago, Skyscanner, Kayak, and Expedia. We also have strong partnerships on the Web3 side, with Binance being a key long-term strategic partner. These partnerships enhance our ability to deliver a diverse range of travel options while promoting the use of cryptocurrency in the travel industry.

How many users does Travala have? And are they all crypto users?

We currently have over 300,000 monthly active users, with approximately 80% of travellers choosing to book travel with crypto. Typically, less than 10% of users opt to book with traditional payment methods and with Travel Credits—account credits received as refunds and rewards—accounting for the remaining 10%. More in-depth stats can be found in our monthly and quarterly reports on our blog.

Which cryptocurrency is the most commonly used by your users?

Stablecoins like USDT and USDC are the most-used payment method on Travala, accounting for approximately one-third of all bookings. Beyond stablecoins, Travala supports over 100 cryptocurrencies, including popular options such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). Additionally, users who pay with AVA in full can enjoy an extra discount of up to 3% off their total price. We also have an integration with Binance Pay, allowing users to seamlessly book travel with certain cryptocurrencies directly from their Binance account.

Do traditional hotels actually receive the payment in crypto? Are they even aware that the client paid using crypto?

Hotels and suppliers do not receive payments directly in cryptocurrency. Travala partners with third-party service providers that handle the conversion of crypto payments into fiat currency to settle the payments to our suppliers. This ensures that neither the hotels nor our suppliers ever deal with cryptocurrency directly—they only receive fiat payments. This approach maintains smooth operations and enables us to have an expansive network without the need for widespread education while allowing customers to enjoy the flexibility of paying with their preferred cryptocurrencies.

What are your plans for the future? Do you foresee major players like Booking.com and Airbnb adopting cryptocurrency as a formal payment method?

We aim to continue amplifying our global reach and enhancing the platform by expanding our inventory, introducing new product offerings, and integrating even more innovative blockchain features. While we anticipate major OTAs to eventually adopt cryptocurrency payments as mainstream demand grows, we view this as a positive development for the entire crypto-travel sector, not as competition. There’s ample space for diverse players to thrive, and as a crypto-native company, we go beyond accepting digital currencies. We’re actively pioneering broader crypto innovation within the travel industry, building a truly cutting-edge travel experience for the modern crypto traveller.

With Travala integrating its hotel listings into Trivago and enabling crypto payments, how do you see this partnership shaping the future of travel payments and the hospitality industry?

The Trivago integration represents a significant step towards expanding the visibility of cryptocurrency availability in travel payments. By combining Trivago’s extensive reach with Travala’s innovation in the blockchain space, we can demonstrate the far-reaching utility of cryptocurrencies while enabling potential customers to conveniently compare prices and discover Travala among other major travel industry players.