Klook Closes $100 Million Investment to Fuel Next Decade of Travel Experiences Growth

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 11, 2025--

Klook, a leading platform for experiences and travel services in Asia, today announced US$100 million in funding led by the global growth investment firm Vitruvian Partners. The latest investment underscores continued confidence in Klook’s vision, market leadership, and operational excellence as the company accelerates its efforts to capture the fast-growing market of next generation travelers and deepen its reach across Asia Pacific.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250211163358/en/

Marking its 10th anniversary in 2024, Klook has been instrumental in redefining how travelers discover and book in-destination experiences. The company has facilitated millions of seamless travel moments, empowered local businesses, and contributed US$7.2 billion in GDP and supported over 219,000 jobs in Asia Pacific 1, reaffirming its pivotal role as a key economic engine in the region’s tourism sector.

“Over the past decade, Klook has established itself as the go-to platform for travel experiences in Asia Pacific, reimagining how travelers discover and connect with destinations. With the region set to remain the heartbeat of global tourism, Klook’s strong brand, extensive supply network, and deep local expertise position us to deliver even greater value to the next generation of experience-driven travelers across the world. We are excited to welcome Vitruvian on this journey,” said Ethan Lin, CEO and Co-Founder of Klook.

According to recent forecasts, international visitor arrivals in the region are expected to grow from 619 million in 2024 to 762 million by 2026 2, surpassing previous highs in 2019. This resurgence, coupled with evolving traveler behaviors—including a growing preference for experiences over material goods—positions Klook to capture significant market share as a trusted platform for experiences and services across the region.

The investment from Vitruvian Partners, known for backing high-growth, category-defining companies, brings a wealth of expertise and global perspective to Klook’s next phase of growth. With a strong track record of supporting travel innovators and scaling global businesses, Vitruvian’s partnership reinforces Klook’s ambition to expand its reach, and solidify its position as a category leader.

"We are thrilled to partner with Klook at this pivotal moment in its journey. Klook’s track record of innovation, commitment to customer experience, and deep market expertise make it uniquely positioned to lead the transformation of travel experiences in Asia Pacific. We believe Vitruvian's investment and its deep thematic expertise in the global travel experience market will help further drive Klook’s growth by strengthening its operational capabilities and expanding its reach," said Sophie Bower-Straziota, Partner at Vitruvian Partners.

The newly secured capital will drive Klook's next phase of growth and innovation. Through its expanded AI partnership with Google Cloud, the company plans to enhance customer experience, merchant operations, and internal productivity. Klook is also future-proofing the tourism sector through digital transformation and fostering community impact in collaboration with tourism boards across Asia-Pacific. A recent agreement with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) exemplifies this approach, accelerating the digital transformation of the country’s tourism sector and improving access to authentic local experiences.

About Klook

Klook is a leading platform for experiences and travel services in Asia. We curate quality experiences ranging from attractions and tours to local transport and experiential stays, in over 2,700 destinations globally. Founded in 2014, we are here to inspire and enable more moments of joy for travelers anytime, anywhere.

About Vitruvian Partners

Vitruvian Partners is a global growth-focused investor with offices across London, Stockholm, Munich, Madrid, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Singapore, Shanghai, Miami, and San Francisco. Vitruvian focuses on dynamic situations characterized by rapid growth and change across asset-light industries. Vitruvian has c.$20bn of active funds which have backed many global winners and leaders in their sectors, including Just Eat, EasyPark, Skyscanner, Wise, Global-e, CFC, CRF Health, Civitatis, Darktrace, and Bitdefender. Further information can be found at www.vitruvianpartners.com

1Research by Oxford Economics dated November 2024
2 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2024-2026 report

Founded in 2014, Klook inspires and enables more moments of joy for travelers with curated quality experiences ranging from the biggest attractions to paragliding adventures, iconic museums to rich cultural tours, and other convenient local travel services across 2,700 destinations around the world. (Photo: Business Wire)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)