From SnapTravel roots to metasearch contender, this “newcomer” is anything but new
Jun 25, 2025
In an OTA landscape dominated by legacy players like Booking Holdings and Expedia Group, one name is suddenly appearing more often in metasearch results and industry chatter: Super.com. Though it may feel like a fresh face, Super.com is actually the evolved form of SnapTravel, a startup founded in 2016 by Hussein Fazal and Henry Shi. Originally known for selling hotel rooms via SMS and WhatsApp, the company has undergone a radical transformation—emerging as a full-fledged travel and fintech “super app” that’s shaking up traditional hotel distribution models.
A rebrand, a pivot, and a fintech edge
The company rebranded as Super.com in 2022 and expanded its offering beyond hotel deals. Today, it combines deeply discounted travel content with financial products like cashback debit cards, credit-building tools, and cash advances—all targeted at price-sensitive consumers underserved by mainstream OTAs. Its membership model, Super+, offers further savings and perks in exchange for a low monthly fee, allowing Super.com to subsidize discounts and generate recurring revenue.
This hybrid OTA-fintech model is part of what makes Super.com feel like a “hot newcomer.” It doesn’t just sell hotel rooms—it builds a sticky ecosystem where users can save, earn, and book travel in a single experience. That ecosystem also powers a customer acquisition strategy that doesn’t rely solely on costly PPC bidding, as is typical for other OTAs.
Making a metasearch move
Super.com has recently gained visibility on platforms like Google Hotels, where it now competes directly with more established OTAs. Travel tech analysts point out that recent changes to Google’s presentation of hotel results—due in part to European DMA regulations and the rise of AI-driven search summaries—have created new room for nimble players. Super.com is seizing the moment, often appearing with discounted offers that undercut both hotels and larger OTAs in price.
Its appearance in 123Compare.me’s OTA parity rankings and recent features in Skift reflect this rising profile. It may not yet rival Expedia in scale, but its pricing aggression and user growth have turned heads across the industry.
How Super.com sources hotel inventory
Super.com sources hotel content via multiple supply channels, similar to other OTAs. These include:
- Global Bedbanks (e.g. Hotelbeds, Webbeds, DidaTravel)
- Direct partnerships with hotel chains and independent properties
- Affiliate API integrations with larger OTAs for long-tail inventory
- A growing interest in dynamic packaging and mobile-exclusive rates, particularly for Super+ members
The company also benefits from its closed-user group (CUG) model, which allows it to offer unpublished rates not visible on public channels. Thanks to its membership tier and fintech positioning, Super.com can legally display rates that would otherwise violate parity agreements—a model similar to how Hopper built its early advantage.
What hoteliers should watch
For hotels, Super.com represents both a new opportunity and a familiar challenge. On one hand, it offers access to incremental demand from younger, mobile-first travelers who are value-driven and less brand-loyal. On the other, its rate positioning and reliance on third-party inventory can complicate parity and attribution.
As Super.com continues to scale and invest in distribution, hoteliers—especially those tracking their presence on metasearch and benchmarking tools—would do well to watch this player. It’s a reminder that innovation in the OTA space isn’t dead. It’s just coming from unexpected directions.
Sources: Skift, Business Insider
