Lighthouse, a leading data analytics platform for the hospitality industry, has closed a massive Series C funding round of $370 million, catapulting its valuation to over $1 billion. The round, led by KKR, is one of the largest for a startup headquartered in London and one of the biggest in the travel sector this year.

The company plans to utilize the funding to expand its data sets, analytics tools, and AI functionality, as well as explore potential acquisitions to further grow its business. Lighthouse has already made four acquisitions, including Stardekk, which brought an all-in-one hotel software for managing reservations and more.

This significant fundraising milestone is a testament to the growing demand for data-driven business intelligence in the travel industry, estimated to be worth $15 trillion annually. Lighthouse's focus on providing actionable insights to hotels and hospitality providers has resonated with investors, despite the current slowdown in startup funding in Europe.

The company's tools are used by over 70,000 hospitality providers, including big names like Holiday Inn, Radisson, and NH Hotel Group. With its latest funding, Lighthouse is poised to continue driving innovation in the travel sector and empowering hotels to make data-driven decisions.