The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Patrick Andrae, Co-founder and CEO of HomeToGo

What does the future of travel really look like, and how is AI reshaping the way we explore the world?

This week on the EU-Startups Podcast, we sit down with Patrick Andrae, co-founder and CEO of HomeToGo, Europe’s leading vacation rental group, with over 20 million listings worldwide and a public listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

In this episode, Patrick unpacks the evolution of TravelTech, from early marketplace bets to today’s AI-powered platforms. He shares the original insight behind the company, how traveller behaviour has shifted over the past decade, and what it takes to scale from startup to IPO. We also dive into the post-COVID travel reset, the rise of “soulcation” and wellness-driven trips, why nature is becoming the ultimate luxury, and much more!

Key Points:

• The original bet behind HomeToGo: aggregating fragmented vacation rental supply into a seamless, user-first marketplace
• How travel behaviour evolved post-COVID – and what trends reverted faster than expected
• The rise of “soulcation” and why modern travel is shifting toward rest, wellness, and slower experiences
• Why nature-based and rural destinations are outperforming traditional city breaks
• The impact of AI across TravelTech—from discovery to booking and property management

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This episode of the EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. The trust management platform helps more than 12k companies, including Nando’s, Allica Bank and Granola, start and scale their security programmes while building trust with buyers. It saves security teams time and improves programme visibility by automating over 35 compliance frameworks, such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, as well as GRC workflows like risk management. Click here to learn more!

Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/04/the-eu-startups-podcast-interview-with-patrick-andrae-co-founder-and-ceo-of-hometogo/