Sequoia Capital Bets Big on Mobile Travel Search

The world-wide use of mobile devices to search for flights, hotels and other travel information is growing. Thirty-six percent of online travelers in the U.S. typically used travel metasearch when shopping for leisure travel in 2012, up from 28% in 2010, according to PhoCusWright, a market research firm.

Sequoia Capital is betting on one mobile app maker to become the leader in the market. The Silicon Valley venture firm has made one of its largest equity investments ever, acquiring shares of Skyscanner Ltd. in a deal that values the Scotland-based company at $800 million. The company's sites and mobile apps, which attract more than 24 million monthly active users, help travelers find flights, hotel rooms or cars. One of the ways the company sets itself apart from the many other travel search companies is by showing prices that include fees and taxes, said Gareth Williams, Skyscanner's chief executive and co-founder.