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Travelnode, a hospitality-tech platform headquartered in Switzerland and majority-owned by private equity funds Sandberg Capital and ARX Equity Partners, has acquired Rentlio, Croatia's second-largest provider of software solutions for tourism. Just a few weeks after acquiring Italian software company Podcamp, which develops specialized campsite management software, this transaction represents another major milestone in the group's strategy aimed at consolidating the European hospitality-tech market.
Travelnode previously acquired the Dubrovnik platform Phobs, and through the synergy between Phobs and Rentlio, it becomes the undisputed market leader in software solutions for hotels, campsites and apartments in Croatia and Slovenia, while building the most ambitious hospitality-tech platform in the Adriatic region. Together, Rentlio and Phobs employ nearly one hundred people and generate over ten million euros in revenue, with clear plans for further growth. Joining these proven, successful technology platforms is an important step towards accelerating the digital transformation of tourism. Rising guest expectations, increasingly complex operations and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence are changing how hoteliers and other tourism businesses operate. Unconnected systems for sales, distribution, operations and communication can no longer keep up with market demands, meaning the future belongs to platforms that unite key business processes and allow hotels to focus less on technology and more on their guests.
This is precisely the vision behind Travelnode, a hospitality-tech platform owned by Sandberg Capital and ARX Equity Partners. Travelnode is now uniting two Croatian companies – Phobs and Rentlio – which have both developed tourism software solutions in Croatia that are competitive not only regionally, but globally.
Rentlio has become synonymous with modern technology in tourism. Its cloud property management platform and supporting solutions help hoteliers and tourism professionals automate processes, simplify front-desk and operations management, and deliver better guest experiences every day.
Phobs, on the other hand, has positioned itself as a leading tech platform focused on driving hotel revenue by managing key sales processes. It places particular emphasis on increasing the share of direct bookings and developing a wide distribution network that connects hotels to all relevant OTA channels, tour operators and traditional travel agencies. At the same time, the platform supports direct advertising on leading metasearch channels, with Google standing out as the most vital channel for price comparison and booking decisions.
“Twelve years ago, we started out in Zadar with the idea of developing a product that would be used around the world. That ambition remains the same today, with the difference that we now have partners who share the same vision and with whom we can achieve far more than any of our companies could alone. The expertise, experience and customer base built by Phobs are unique in this part of Europe. For our users, this means an acceleration of everything we have built so far. Rentlio remains Rentlio – with the same team, the same values, but even greater ambition than before. We believe that the future of technology in tourism will be built by connected platforms that allow hoteliers to spend less time managing technology and more time on what matters most – creating outstanding experiences for their guests. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for Rentlio, which is deeply motivating and emotional for me,” stated Marko Mišulić, founder and CEO of Rentlio.
“Phobs remains strongly focused on large enterprise clients, hotel and camping chains that build their own complex tech ecosystems, where Phobs plays a key role in integrating systems, distribution and managing sales processes. At the same time, this merger creates additional opportunities for hotel properties that increasingly seek comprehensive, integrated and simple solutions. These clients require a unified tech environment that reduces operational complexity, simplifies daily management and enables them to focus more on guests and business growth. This is about building a broader tech platform that combines key knowledge, products and competencies required by hoteliers in the years ahead. Each company will remain focused on what it does best, while joint technology development, knowledge sharing and expansion into new market segments will drive further growth,” said Miho Borković, President of the Management Board at Phobs.
“Our ambition is to build Europe's leading tourism technology platform. Travelnode currently offers a comprehensive suite of cloud solutions for hotels, apartments and campsites, systematically building an integrated tech ecosystem for the entire accommodation industry. The acquisition of Rentlio is the next logical step in this strategy – following Podcamp, it is our second transaction in just a few weeks, further strengthening our position across the region,” stated Michal Rybovič, Managing Partner at Sandberg Capital.
“Rentlio was a natural fit for our strategy. The company combines a high-quality product, a strong market position and, above all, an experienced management team led by Marko Mišulić, who has consistently demonstrated his ability to build an internationally successful technology company. We are delighted that Marko will remain in his executive position while also becoming a shareholder in the Travelnode Group. This reflects our long-term philosophy of building platforms alongside entrepreneurs and management teams who continue to drive growth and create new value,” said Michal Rzavský, Investment Manager at Sandberg Capital.
Through the joint development of these two companies, as well as Italy's Podcamp, investments in innovation, artificial intelligence, integrations and new functionalities will accelerate further, delivering even greater value to users.
Fifteen years ago, Croatia barely existed on the global hospitality technology map. Today, Dubrovnik is home to one of the leading hotel revenue-generating platforms developed to give hotels greater control over sales, increase direct bookings and connect them to global distribution channels, while Zadar boasts one of the most modern property management platforms. Uniting under one roof while retaining their Croatian offices, both companies continue to develop tourism technology solutions together.
