Tripadvisor is set to sell off its online restaurant and management platform TheFork to American Express for $700 million (around €603 million) in an all-cash deal under advice from Goldman Sachs. The transaction is expected to allow Tripadvisor to focus on its Experiences strategy, while giving the buyer another customer engagement tool.
TheFork started life as Fourchette in 2007, was acquired by Tripadvisor in 2014, and by 2021 was using the name TheFork across all markets. Connecting diners to restaurants, its offer is centred in Europe, powering reservation and restaurant management for over 50,000 eateries across 11 countries.
Tripadvisor has seen post-pandemic struggles and stiff competition, but TheFork generated $232 million (€199 million) in revenue for 2025, a 25% increase year-on-year, according to Tripadvisor’s earnings report. Adjusted EBITDA for the same period was $28 million, versus total group EBITDA plummeting 50%.
American Express has agreed to acquire American Express’s European restaurant-reservation platform TheFork from Tripadvisor for $700 million in cash, expanding its dining network to roughly 75,000 bookable venues globally as it deepens its push into restaurant discovery alongside… pic.twitter.com/FtPW5DUBuP
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Still, nine percent shareholder Starboard Value has been pressing for TheFork’s sale since it came on board in summer 2025, amid efforts to accelerate Tripadvisor’s capital returns, balance the books, and fund growth in its Experiences segment. The announcement, made on 15 June 2026, boosted shares in the online travel platform by seven percent during morning trading.
“This agreement reflects two things we believe deeply: the tangible value across Tripadvisor Group’s portfolio and our ongoing focus on the opportunity we see ahead in Experiences,” said Matt Goldberg, CEO, Tripadvisor Group. “We’re proud of what we’ve built with TheFork and grateful for the team’s work to secure a leading position in European dining. I’m confident that we’ve found an ideal home for them and look forward to expanding our relationship with American Express in the future.”
Meanwhile, acknowledging American Express’s repeated acquisition of dining platforms, and their fast growth, Rafa Marquez, president of international card services at American Express noted that “Dining is one of the most important ways people engage with our brand.” Alongside Resy and Tock, the addition of TheFork will give American Express a 75,000-strong dining network.
“Over time, the proposed acquisition would help us enrich our differentiated Membership Model by offering Card Members more ways to discover, book and access great restaurants, while helping our partners reach more diners and grow their businesses,” Marquez added.
TheFork is expected to maintain its current leadership structure for the time being, with the purchase slated to complete before the end of 2026, subject to the usual employment reviews, operational conditions, and approvals.
