Key Points
- TourHub, the online group and adventure tours marketplace headquartered in Cardiff, has managed to raise £3 million in fresh funding.
- TourHub managed to grow its revenues by nearly 40% last year to reach £23 million in revenue, with total revenue crossing £45 million since its full launch earlier this year in 2023.
- This funding round comprises a combination of equity from previous investors like the Development Bank of Wales, Waterspring Ventures, and private business angels, together with long-term debt financing from Finstock Capital.
- Formed amid the Covid-19 pandemic, TourHub currently lists 15,000+ tours operated by 750 tour operators globally, serving an international customer base of the US, Canada, UK, and Australia.
- The funds raised will be deployed towards enhancing the platform and technology offering, increasing international marketing efforts, expanding its operator offering to 1,000 by 2027, and creation of more jobs at the Cardiff headquarters.
- Key executives include founder and CEO Seamus Conlon, CTO Rhodri Evans, and COO Laurence Hicks, with a board consisting of Chairman Will Waggott and non-executive directors Darren Evans and Matt Brooks.
Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) October 19, 2026 — Cardiff-headquartered online travel marketplace TourHub has secured £3 million in new funding following a financial year that saw sales surge by nearly 40% to £23 million. Backed by a coalition of institutional equity providers and debt financiers, the ambitious enterprise plans to scale its technological infrastructure, expand international marketing efforts across four major English-speaking markets, and generate fresh employment opportunities at its Welsh headquarters.
- Key Points
- How Did Cardiff-Based TourHub Secure £3 Million in New Funding Amid Rapid Global Expansion?
- What Factors Drove TourHub’s 40% Sales Growth Last Year?
- Where Will the £3 Million Investment Be Deployed?
- What Roles Do Key Stakeholders and Board Members Play in TourHub’s Strategy?
- Background of the Development
How Did Cardiff-Based TourHub Secure £3 Million in New Funding Amid Rapid Global Expansion?
As reported by Investment Executive Tom Linney of the Development Bank of Wales, TourHub has officially completed a £3 million funding round to capitalise on its robust commercial momentum. The investment combines equity contributions from existing financial backers—including the Development Bank of Wales, Waterspring Ventures, and a syndicate of business angels—with long-term debt facilities provided by Finstock Capital.
Founded in Cardiff during the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the online marketplace for group and adventure tours commenced full commercial trading at the beginning of 2023. According to published company disclosures, the platform has generated £45 million in total sales since its inception and listed more than 15,000 distinct tours supplied by 750 independent tour operators worldwide.
What Factors Drove TourHub’s 40% Sales Growth Last Year?
As detailed in company announcements, TourHub achieved sales growth close to 40% last year, bringing annual figures to £23 million. Explaining the resilience behind this expansion, Founder and CEO Seamus Conlon stated that
“demand for experiential travel is buoyant. Even through a turbulent period for travel, we grew close to 40% last year to £23 million in sales, because we sell to travellers across the US, Canada, the UK and Australia rather than relying on any one market.”
By diversifying its consumer base across multiple international geographies rather than depending on a single domestic territory, the marketplace has insulated itself against regional economic fluctuations. Industry data shows that TourHub’s typical demographic comprises experienced travellers predominantly in their 60s—half of whom travel solo, and the majority of whom are female—seeking guided, social itineraries with an average trip value of £3,700.
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Where Will the £3 Million Investment Be Deployed?
Addressing the strategic deployment of the newly acquired capital, leadership confirmed that the funds will be channeled into several key operational areas. These include advanced technology and platform enhancements focused on refining search functionality, booking engines, and operator management tools.
Additionally, the business intends to scale its targeted marketing campaigns across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. A primary operational target is expanding the total roster of active tour operators on the platform to 1,000 by 2027, which will concurrently create new, skilled professional roles at TourHub’s primary Cardiff headquarters.
What Roles Do Key Stakeholders and Board Members Play in TourHub’s Strategy?
As reported by Investment Executive Tom Linney of the Development Bank of Wales, the organisation’s latest capital injection stems from the Wales Flexible Investment Fund. Tom Linney stated that
“TourHub has made strong progress since our first investment, growing its international reach and building a platform that connects travellers with a wide range of experiences. This third round of funding demonstrates our continued support for Seamus and the team as they build on that momentum and create further skilled jobs in Cardiff.”
Echoing institutional confidence, Edo Salvesen, Director of Finstock Capital, stated:
“We are delighted to support the management team with its ambitious plans to grow through alternative debt finance together with its equity shareholders.”
The company’s strategic trajectory is governed by an executive board with extensive travel and digital industry experience. The leadership team features Founder and CEO Seamus Conlon (former Managing Director of Airtours Holidays and founder of Cruise.co.uk), CTO Rhodri Evans (founder of TigerBay IT), and COO Laurence Hicks (former Managing Director of Wendy Wu Tours). Oversight is provided by Chairman Will Waggott (former CFO of TUI) alongside Non-Executive Directors Darren Evans (former owner of Leisure Pass Group) and Matt Brooks.
Background of the Development
The experiential travel sector—encompassing small-group excursions, adventure tourism, and guided cultural journeys—represents one of the fastest-growing segments within the global tourism industry. Despite its rapid expansion, a significant portion of this market has historically relied on fragmented, offline booking mechanisms. TourHub was established to bridge this gap by creating a unified, trusted digital marketplace that connects independent tour operators with international consumers.
The company’s initial backing from the Development Bank of Wales and Waterspring Ventures enabled it to build its core infrastructure during a challenging macroeconomic climate for the global travel industry. Consecutive funding rounds have progressively equipped the platform to scale its proprietary software, handle rising transaction volumes, and absorb a greater share of the burgeoning worldwide adventure travel market.
This £3 million funding injection and subsequent operational scaling are expected to significantly accelerate TourHub’s market penetration across North America, the UK, and Australasia. For tour operators—particularly independent and boutique agencies—the platform’s expansion offers direct access to a high-value international audience of mature, solo, and experiential travellers that they would otherwise struggle to reach independently.
For the regional economy in Cardiff and Wales, the commitment to expanding headcount at the headquarters reinforces the capital’s status as a burgeoning hub for scalable technology and travel-tech ventures. If the company achieves its target of onboarding 1,000 operators by 2027, it will likely cement its position as a dominant global aggregator in the experiential travel space, driving sustained employment and digital innovation within South Wales.
