Viator: Rod Cuthbert

What this episode covers

Rod Cuthbert, founder of Viator, explains how a failed contract with travel technology giant Sabre in 1997 led to the creation of an online booking platform for tours and activities. After securing funding from Carlisle Ventures, Cuthbert and his team pivoted from a B2B model to a consumer-focused marketplace, introducing premium 'skip-the-line' experiences at major attractions like the Vatican. The company survived near-bankruptcy in 2005 by raising capital through a serendipitous connection with an investor, eventually growing to $300 million in gross bookings before being acquired by TripAdvisor for $200 million in 2014.