Amex is buying another reservations platform
It plans to acquire Europe's TheFork for $700 million, boosting Amex's bookable inventory above OpenTable's. That’s… significant.
On Monday morning, American Express announced its plans to acquire European reservations platform TheFork for $700 million in cash. The deal is expected to close later this year subject to regulatory approval and, when completed, will bring the total number of bookable venues on the American Express network — those on Amex-owned Resy, Tock, and TheFork — to 75,000, per a release.
Assuming everyone’s accurately reporting their inventory, that’s more reservable spots than OpenTable’s global roster of 65,000 restaurants, a shift that would unseat the once-undisputed category leader.
“Our card members love restaurants, and it’s exciting to see the opportunity for dining to become a greater part of our membership model globally,” Pablo Rivero, Resy CEO and American Express svp of global dining, posted on LinkedIn.
A representative for American Express told me that following the closing of the potential acquisition, TheFork and Resy would operate as separate platforms. “We expect TheFork to continue operating under its existing leadership, brand and platform,” they said.
Additionally, TheFork would be part of Amex’s international card business, they said, partnering with Resy to connect the company’s full global dining network.
Restaurants on Tock received a similar message when that acquisition was announced years ago. “As you may know, American Express owns Resy,” Tock CEO Matt Tucker wrote partner restaurants in 2024. “When the deal closes, Tock and Resy will continue to remain separate businesses.”
“Dining is one of the most important ways people engage with our brand,” said Rafa Marquez, president of international card services at American Express, in a statement. “Over time, the proposed acquisition would help us enrich our differentiated membership model by offering card members more ways to discover, book and access great restaurants.”
American Express has been aggressively growing its reservations network by acquisition. In 2019 it bought Resy for a sum that was never officially confirmed but rumored at $200 million. It acquired reservations platform Tock for $400 million in 2024 and later this summer will move its 8,000 venues to Resy, dismantling the Tock brand and boosting Resy’s bookable venue count to 25,000.
TheFork launched in 2007 in France as LaFourchette and was acquired by TripAdvisor in 2014; its restaurants span 11 countries with many concentrated in major cities like Paris, London, and Rome. According to TripAdvisor, TheFork earned $232 million in revenue in the 12 months ending March 31.
