The travel agency Trip.com has closed the purchase of a majority stake in e-hoi GmbH, a tour operator and online travel agency specialized in cruises in Europe. The transaction was formalized on September 4, 2026, and although it is already effective, the parties have not made the economic details of the agreement public.
With this acquisition, the experience and European cruise brands of e-hoi group are integrated with the international projection and technological capabilities of Trip.com Group, with the aim of strengthening and expanding the cruise business in the European market.
The founder and CEO of e-hoi group, Detlev Schäferjohann, will remain as a shareholder and will continue to lead the company alongside Nicolay Merkt, managing director of e-hoi group. The brands "A world of cruises" and "Wondercruises" also remain within the group's perimeter.
Founded in 2003 and based in Frankfurt, e-hoi group currently operates in eight European countries: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and France. The company has established itself as a leader in the DACH regions - Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - and Benelux.
The company has its own end-to-end technological platform that has allowed it to elevate its 'online' booking volume above the industry average and notably optimize its operational efficiency.
Trip.com Group emphasizes that the operation is supported by e-hoi's strong position in the European market and the good long-term growth prospects of the cruise industry.
According to the International Cruise Lines Association (CLIA), the number of cruise passengers worldwide reached 37.2 million in 2025, representing an increase of 7.5% compared to the previous year.
The Chinese group also anticipates that cruise bookings through the internet will continue to increase over the next ten years, creating a favorable scenario for specialized digital platforms like e-hoi.
The integration between both companies opens the door to new avenues of collaboration in product development, service improvement, and strengthening the digital customer experience, leveraging the strengths of Trip.com Group in technology, artificial intelligence, flights, and hotels.
e-hoi group will maintain its operational autonomy within Trip.com Group. Its brands, offices in Europe, teams, and management structure will remain unchanged, and reservations, services, contact channels, and current business agreements will continue to operate normally.
The CEO of the Vacation Business Unit of Trip.com Group, Ray Chen, has emphasized the importance of Europe as one of the largest cruise source markets and has indicated that the initial priority will be to support the management team of e-hoi in the consolidation and expansion of its activity.
Schäferjohann has highlighted that the entry into Trip.com Group will allow e-hoi to strengthen its technological capabilities and advance in fields such as artificial intelligence, while Merkt has insisted that ensuring continuity for customers, employees, and partners will remain one of the central axes of the company.