Holidu takes over bestfewo.de and expands market position in Germany

Established brand to be integrated into the Holidu system

The platform bestfewo.de was founded in 2008 and is among the most recognized vacation rental portals in Germany. Following the integration, the bestfewo.de brand will remain in place and continue to operate independently in the market. Technically, the platform will be integrated into Holidu’s software system. Both vacation rental hosts and travelers will benefit from this integration.

For hosts who previously rented through bestfewo.de, operations will now be handled via Holidu’s software system. They will gain access to a comprehensive property management software solution with direct online bookings, automated payment processing, centralized calendar management, and data-driven pricing recommendations. This is complemented by personal support from local service teams and professional photo shoots, significantly enhancing property visibility and marketing performance.

For guests, bestfewo.de will continue to operate as a booking platform. Through integration into the Holidu marketplace, the available inventory will expand by several million properties. Holidu will manage payment processing and oversee the entire booking process.

Regulatory and competitive pressure pushes vacation rental market toward consolidation

The European vacation rental market is currently undergoing active consolidation. Hundreds of regional portals and millions of independent hosts face rising regulatory requirements, increasing competition from global platforms, and significant technology investments. Market participants are joining forces to pool costs, fund technological investments, and meet regulatory requirements more efficiently.

„Over nearly 20 years, bestfewo has built a strong market position in the German vacation rental market and enjoys high trust among both travelers and hosts. Through this integration, we are strengthening our position as a leading European platform for vacation accommodations, and gaining access to an established customer base in our home market — on both the supply and demand sides.”

— Johannes Siebers, CEO and Co-Founder of Holidu

„We are deliberately placing bestfewo.de in the hands of Holidu. Holidu’s software solution for hosts is currently the most advanced on the market and provides property owners with the digital tools they need to reach a new level of professionalization and revenue growth.”

— Dirk Föste, CEO of bestfewo GmbH

bestfewo GmbH will remain an independent company and will focus in the future on the technical and commercial integration of vacation accommodations with travel agencies. The collaboration does not involve any corporate merger between the companies.

M&A activity as a core component of Holidu’s growth strategy

With the acquisition of bestfewo.de, Holidu continues its strategy of growing through integrations and partnerships. The acquisitions of ferienwohnungen.de as well as gites.fr in France mark important milestones. Holidu positions itself as an active consolidator in a fragmented European market.

„We have developed technology that significantly accelerates integrations. Thanks to AI-supported processes, we can now technically merge even complex platforms within just a few weeks. This makes us extremely fast and scalable.”

— Johannes Siebers, CEO and Co-Founder of Holidu

Holidu currently manages nearly 60,000 vacation rentals and apartments through its proprietary software solution. Revenue generated through these properties now accounts for more than 70% of the company’s total revenue. Holidu has raised more than €200 million in capital to date and is well funded to grow both organically and through further strategic integrations.

The integration of the bestfewo.de brand strengthens Holidu’s position as one of the leading providers of property management software and services for private vacation rental hosts and independent property managers in Europe.

About Holidu

Holidu is a fast-growing vacation rental technology company, driven by its mission to make hosting and booking vacation rentals free of doubt and full of joy. Its proprietary property management software (PMS) and expert local teams help vacation rental hosts and small property managers increase bookings with less effort. For travelers, Holidu offers a large, curated portfolio of vacation rentals, ensuring confident and worry-free bookings. The company also equips destination marketing organizations (DMOs) with its Holidu Smart Destination software. Founded in 2014 by brothers Johannes and Michael Siebers, the Munich-headquartered company now employs more than 700 people and operates offices in over 25 prime European vacation destinations. 

About bestfewo

bestfewo was founded in 1998 and is considered a pioneer among booking platforms for vacation accommodations in Germany. The brand enjoys strong recognition and high trust among hosts, guests, and destination partners. bestfewo.de was named industry winner in the “Vacation Apartments” category in the Handelsblatt ranking for “Germany’s Best Online Portals” in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

From 2026 onward, bestfewo GmbH, headquartered in Potsdam, will focus on a B2B software and service platform for distributing more than 400,000 vacation accommodations via travel agencies and partner platforms. The portfolio is already marketed through more than 20 travel portals. Around 3,500 affiliated independent agencies, as well as several travel agency chains and cooperatives in Germany, are currently connected to the distribution network. www.bestfewo.de