American Express has announced the acquisition of the restaurant reservation platform TheFork from Tripadvisor for 700 million dollars (approximately 602.8 million euros). The strategic move is designed to significantly bolster the financial giant’s presence in the European hospitality sector.
By integrating TheFork, American Express aims to strengthen its global dining strategy, adding the platform to its existing portfolio of culinary lifestyle services which already features digital reservation brands like Resy and Tock. The company estimates that once the integration process is finalized, its combined digital network will span an impressive footprint of approximately 75,000 restaurants worldwide.
According to American Express, the corporate takeover is expected to greatly enhance cardmember access to high-demand dining venues while simultaneously driving the growth of its international business segments. Rafa Márquez, the President of International Card Services at American Express, noted that dining represents one of the primary ways customers interact with the brand.
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He asserted that the acquisition will expand restaurant discovery and booking options for users, while providing robust digital support to boost the growth of partner establishments.
Almir Ambeskovic, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TheFork, stated that joining American Express will accelerate the platform’s development and enhance the value provided to its user base. Founded in 2007, TheFork currently operates across 11 countries, including Portugal, and connects consumers with more than 50,000 restaurants through a system that allows users to book tables and helps owners manage seating and customer relations.
The completion of the transaction is projected to occur before the end of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and standard labor union consultation procedures, after which the platform will continue to operate under its current management team.
