American Express announced it will acquire TheFork from Tripadvisor for $700 million in an all-cash deal, marking the payment company’s latest major investment in dining technology and its push to expand restaurant access for cardholders worldwide.
TheFork, Europe’s leading restaurant booking platform, connects millions of diners with more than 50,000 restaurants across 11 European countries. The platform generated $232 million in revenue for the year ended March 31, 2026, a 25% increase from the prior year, according to Tripadvisor’s earnings report.
The acquisition expands American Express’ dining network to 75,000 bookable venues, significantly bolstering its international business, which has been the company’s fastest-growing segment for years. “Dining is one of the most important ways people engage with our brand,” said Rafa Marquez, president of international card services at American Express.
The deal builds on American Express’ earlier acquisitions of restaurant reservation platforms Resy and Tock, part of a broader strategy to strengthen its premium dining offerings. TheFork will continue to operate under its existing leadership team following the acquisition.
Tripadvisor announced the sale as part of a strategic refocus on its experiences-led business. The company faced mounting pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, which in October 2025 urged Tripadvisor to explore a sale of TheFork as the travel platform struggled to recover from pandemic disruptions and competition from rivals like Booking Holdings and Airbnb.
Tripadvisor shares rose 7% in morning trading after the announcement. Goldman Sachs served as financial adviser to Tripadvisor and TheFork. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, labor consultations, and customary closing conditions.
Sources
- Reuters — core deal details, financial figures, leadership quotes, and strategic rationale
- Yahoo Finance — TheFork revenue and EBITDA metrics
- Investor’s Business Daily — restaurant network scale and international reach
- Benzinga — Tripadvisor share price movement and divestiture context
