American Express has reached an agreement to acquire TheFork, Tripadvisor’s restaurant booking app, for $700 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2026 and aims to enhance American Express’s dining network, expanding it to 75,000 bookable venues worldwide. The acquisition aligns with the company’s strategy to strengthen its international business, which has been among its fastest-growing areas in recent years.

TheFork, headquartered in Paris and founded in 2007, operates in 11 European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. The platform partners with over 50,000 restaurants, enabling users to search for and book tables. American Express President of International Card Services Rafa Marquez highlighted the strategic value of the acquisition, noting that dining is a key engagement point for card members. He emphasized that TheFork’s established relationships in the European restaurant sector complement American Express’s existing services.

This acquisition marks another step in American Express’s ongoing expansion of its dining-related offerings. In 2019, the company acquired Resy, a U.S.-based restaurant booking platform that provides cardholders with exclusive access to reservations and early notifications. In 2024, American Express also purchased Tock, a reservation system launched in 2014, for $400 million, further broadening its presence in the restaurant technology space.

TheFork’s CEO, Almir Ambeskovic, described the acquisition as a chance to boost innovation and service in the dining industry. “Together, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate our mission, bringing even more value to restaurants while creating richer and more seamless experiences for millions of diners across Europe,” he said.

The decision to sell TheFork follows pressure from activist investors on Tripadvisor to consider divesting the app. Tripadvisor, which has faced ongoing challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased competition from rivals like Booking Holdings and Airbnb, has owned TheFork since 2014. In October 2025, Jeff Smith, CEO of the hedge fund Starboard Value, called for Tripadvisor to sell TheFork, describing it as the least-integrated segment of the company’s portfolio. Starboard renewed its criticism in early 2026, urging Tripadvisor’s management to accelerate the review of strategic options for the business and to explore a potential sale of the entire company.

Stephen Squeri, chairman and CEO of American Express, expressed optimism about the deal, noting potential synergies with Tripadvisor’s offerings in dining, travel, and experiences. “By building on our shared strengths, we have opportunities to create even greater value for customers and partners,” he said.

Tripadvisor CEO Matt Goldberg acknowledged the sale as indicative of the “tangible value” within the company’s portfolio. Following the announcement, Tripadvisor’s shares rose 1.2 percent in New York trading, while American Express shares gained 3.1 percent. Tripadvisor’s stock has declined more than 65 percent over the past five years.