rome2rio

Rome2rio operates as a comprehensive, door-to-door travel planning engine, designed to simplify the complexity of journey research for a global user base. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 2010 by former Microsoft software engineers Michael Cameron and Bernhard Tschirren, the company was born out of their frustration with the difficulty of finding transport options beyond flights. They envisioned a platform that could show users how to get from any point A to any point B, combining all modes of transport. This idea led them to move back to Australia from Seattle and develop the initial concept from a parent's living room.

The platform functions as a multimodal transport search engine, aggregating data from over 5,000 operators across more than 160 countries. Users can input any address, landmark, or city, and the service displays a detailed itinerary of flight, train, bus, ferry, and driving options, complete with estimated travel times and costs. This core service targets travelers undertaking complex trips who would otherwise need to consult multiple websites. Rome2rio's business model is primarily based on a hybrid of metasearch and direct booking. Revenue is generated through affiliate commissions from bookings made via the platform, advertising from travel-related companies, and premium listings that offer enhanced visibility to transport and accommodation partners.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its acquisition in October 2019 by Omio, a Berlin-based travel booking platform. Despite the acquisition, Rome2rio continues to operate as a separate entity headquartered in Melbourne, with its co-founders remaining involved with the company. The collaboration allows Rome2rio to leverage Omio's extensive ticketing capabilities, while Omio benefits from Rome2rio's sophisticated global routing technology. Before the acquisition, the company had raised $3.1 million in funding over several rounds, including a grant from Commercialization Australia. The platform has also been recognized with several awards, including the People's Choice Award at Phocuswright in 2012.

Keywords: travel planner, multimodal transport, journey search engine, door-to-door travel, transport aggregation, flight booking, train booking, bus booking, ferry booking, travel logistics, route planning, travel metasearch, online travel agency, transportation data, global travel, trip planning, travel itinerary, Omio, Michael Cameron, Bernhard Tschirren