History of Kayak

Kayak, one of the pioneering online travel agencies (OTA), was founded in 2004 by Steve Hafner and Paul English. Initially launched as a meta-search engine, Kayak quickly gained popularity for its ability to aggregate travel information from various sources, including airlines, hotels, and rental car companies. This allowed users to compare prices and make informed decisions about their travel plans. The platform's intuitive interface and comprehensive search capabilities made it a go-to tool for millions of travelers worldwide.

Over the years, Kayak expanded its services and features, including mobile apps for iOS and Android devices, enabling users to access travel information on the go. The company also introduced additional tools such as price alerts, which notify users when there's a drop in the fare of a flight or hotel they're interested in. In 2012, Kayak went public, trading on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol KYAK, before being acquired by The Priceline Group (now Booking Holdings) later that year for $1.8 billion. Despite changes in ownership, Kayak continued to innovate, integrating new technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance the user experience and provide personalized recommendations. Today, Kayak remains a prominent player in the online travel industry, offering a wide range of services to help travelers plan and book their trips with ease and convenience.