About us - Secret Escapes Group

Our brands

We have some of the world’s leading travel and experience brands under the Secret Escapes Group umbrella. Spanning 14 territories, each brand is united with the common purpose of offering an unrivalled selection of inspirational travel offers and experiences at unbeatable prices to our global membership base.

Secret Escapes

Launched in 2011

Secret Escapes is the world’s leading members-only online travel deals company, offering inspiring travel experiences and hand-picked offers to over 62 million users worldwide. Operating in 14 countries across Europe, Secret Escapes continues to grow and establish itself as a world-class business dedicated to giving its members the best range and value in luxury travel deals in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Travelist

Acquired in 2014

Founded in 2013, Travelist is the first Polish online travel club that inspires its members to discover new places. With over 5 million registered users, Travelist is the fastest growing company on the local Polish travel market. Today, Travelist ranks as the third biggest booking website in the country, offering carefully selected, mainly family-oriented hotel deals in a highly personalised way – and always with the best price guarantee.

Slevomat Group

Acquired in 2017

The Slevomat Group (Slevomat.cz, Zlavomat.sk and Skrz.cz) is Central and Eastern Europe’s biggest leisure ecommerce platform. Founded in 2010, Slevomat Group sells hotels, holidays and lifestyle experiences, ranging from spa days and wellbeing activities to restaurant meals, sporting events and more, to over 1.3 million customers in Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Travelbird

Assets acquired in 2018

Founded in 2010 in Amsterdam, TravelBird makes booking and travelling simple and easy for curious travelers. Operating in four territories, TravelBird pairs unique, inspiring and great value travel deals with a hassle-free booking experience for 15,000 travellers daily.

Empathy Marketing Limited

Acquired in 2019

Founded in 2000, Empathy Marketing Limited (EML) has grown into the leader in the Irish deals market. Launching its flagship brand, Pigsback.com in Ireland in 2000, EML uses sub-brands (LuxuryBreaks.ie, TheBeautyLounge.ie and TheDiningRoom.ie) as an attractive premium marketplace for four and five-star hotels. In 2016, the business acquired DealRush.ie, Escapes.ie, TreatTicket.ie (Northern Ireland), JustGolf.ie and MyDealPage.ie.

Our journey

2011

Secret Escapes Group launches

www.secretescapes.com goes live in the UK, with just 5 deals.

Series A funding round

Series A round secured from angel investors and venture capital firms, Octopus Ventures and Accomplice (formerly Atlas Venture).

2012

First TV ad

Launch of Secret Escapes’ first TV ad - ‘the worst kept secret in luxury travel’ - starring Camilla Arfwedson.

Series B funding round

Series B funding round secured, led by venture capital firm, Index Ventures.

2013

International expansion to Europe & Scandinavia

Secret Escapes launches sites in Germany, shortly followed by Sweden.

5 million members reached

Over 5 million members in the UK, Germany and Sweden sign up to Secret Escapes for free using just their email address.

2014

Acquisition of Travelist & JustBook

Acquired Travelist, a flash deals brand in Poland, and Germany-based JustBook, a mobile-based specialist in business travel sector bookings.

Expansion to Europe

Secret Escapes launches in Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway

2015

Secret Escapes expands to new territories

Secret Escapes launches in Italy, Netherlands and Belgium.

Series C funding round

Series C funding secured, led by GV (formerly Google Ventures) and Octopus Investments, with participation from existing investors Index Ventures and Accomplice (formerly Atlas Venture).

2016

Secret Escapes strengthens supply in Asia

Secret Escapes increased supply in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Secret Escapes launches in Eastern Europe

Secret Escapes launches in France, Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic.

2017

Secret Escapes acquires Slevomat Group

Secret Escapes acquires 100% of Slevomat Group (Slevomat.cz, Zlavomat.sk and Skrz.cz), Central and Eastern Europe’s leading travel deals and experiences company.

Series D funding round

Series D investment and debt facility led by Singapore-headquartered Temasek, with participation from existing investors Idinvest Partners, and a debt facility from Silicon Valley Bank.

2018

TravelBird assets acquired

Secret Escapes acquires assets of TravelBird, restarting the website as part of the Secret Escapes Group.

Secret Escapes Group welcomes funds from Merian Global Investors

Secret Escapes welcomes investment from funds across Merian Global Investors’ small- and mid-cap UK equities desk (formerly Old Mutual Global Investors).

2019

Empathy Marketing Limited joins the Secret Escapes Group

Secret Escapes acquires Empathy Marketing Limited, Ireland’s leading marketplace for premium hospitality and e-commerce offers.

Kate Swann appointed as Secret Escapes Chair

Secret Escapes strengthens Board as it focuses on growth with the appointment of Kate Swann as Chair

Our markets

We operate in 14 countries, working with multiple hotels, holiday and experience suppliers from over 150 countries across the world.

Our investors

Secret Escapes is backed by some of the world’s best-known investors, including Temasek, Merian Global Investors and Octopus Ventures.