American Express agrees to buy Tripadvisor’s TheFork in $700 million deal

American Express said it plans to buy TheFork, the restaurant reservation and management platform owned by Tripadvisor, in a deal valued at $700 million. The announcement, reported by multiple outlets on Monday, adds another step to American Express’s broader push in travel-related services and links the payments company more closely with dining reservation technology.

According to the reports, TheFork operates as an online platform used for restaurant bookings and restaurant management. The acquisition would transfer the business from Tripadvisor to American Express, giving the payments and travel company control of a service that sits at the intersection of dining, travel and consumer booking activity. The transaction value was given as $700 million.

American Express is best known as a payments company, but it also has a significant travel-related business. The planned purchase suggests the company is continuing to invest in services that can support its customers beyond card payments alone. While the reports did not provide operational details about how TheFork would be integrated into American Express’s existing businesses, the deal itself signals interest in a platform that handles reservations and restaurant operations in a segment closely tied to travel spending.

The market reaction was immediate. Investing.com reported that American Express shares rose after the acquisition news. Nasdaq’s report said Tripadvisor shares moved higher in pre-market trading, with the stock up 14% after the announcement. The share price response reflected investor attention to the value of the asset being sold and the significance of the transaction for both companies.

For Tripadvisor, the planned sale represents a divestment of a restaurant-booking asset rather than a core hotel or travel-review business. The reports did not include the company’s broader rationale for the sale, but the transaction would monetize a platform that Tripadvisor had owned before the planned transfer to American Express. The immediate rise in Tripadvisor’s stock suggested the market viewed the announced price as supportive for the company’s valuation.

The deal also highlights how large consumer-facing companies continue to look for ways to connect travel, dining and booking experiences. TheFork’s role as a restaurant reservation and management platform makes it relevant to customers who plan meals as part of their trips, and to restaurants that rely on digital tools for managing bookings. American Express’s interest in the platform indicates a strategic focus on services that can complement its payments network and travel offerings.

The reports did not mention a closing timeline, regulatory conditions or financing terms, and no additional financial details were provided beyond the stated $700 million price. For now, the main takeaway is the size and direction of the transaction: American Express is moving to acquire a travel-linked restaurant platform from Tripadvisor, while the announcement has already had a visible effect on both companies’ shares in trading.