Amadeus Acquires WCC's HERMES to Transform Border Security and Elevate Travel Experience

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – May 1st, 2025 – Amadeus, the global leader in travel technology solutions, has announced its acquisition of WCC's HERMES solution and business, a cutting-edge real-time traveler data analysis software specializing in border security and passenger screening. The acquisition represents a significant strategic advancement in Amadeus's mission to transform how travel works by connecting every stage of the journey from home to destination. Venero Capital Advisors acted as joint financial advisor to WCC Group and their private equity backer, Avedon Capital Partners. 

The combined entity will be positioned as the premier provider of integrated border and identity management solutions worldwide, responding to the critical need for enhanced security and streamlined passenger processing as billions of people cross borders annually. The consolidation enables Amadeus to offer a truly end-to-end passenger flow solution, complementing its existing biometric technologies including e-Gates, self-service kiosks, and facial recognition systems. 

Rudy Daniello, Executive Vice President, AirOps at Amadeus, said: "This acquisition is the natural evolution of our longstanding partnership with WCC. Together, we can now offer airports and border authorities a comprehensive solution that transforms one of the most defining moments in the traveler journey. The integration of HERMES into our portfolio means shorter queues and faster border crossings for travelers, while providing more efficient processing and stronger security for authorities." 

Roelof Troost, representing WCC Group, commented: "As proud founders of HERMES and the underlying state-of-the-art 'fuzzy name matching' engine ELISE, WCC is delighted to have found a new home for HERMES and its talented team. This acquisition with Amadeus will accelerate innovation and provide enhanced capabilities to deliver integrated border management solutions worldwide." 

Georgios Markakis, Managing Partner at Venero Capital Advisors, said: "The acquisition of WCC's HERMES real-time traveler data analysis software by Amadeus represents a strategic milestone in creating comprehensive end-to-end border and identity management solutions. This transformative deal combines Amadeus's established leadership in travel technology with WCC's sophisticated passenger screening capabilities, positioning the merged entity to revolutionize how millions of travelers experience border crossings globally while enhancing security for airports and border authorities."

​The HERMES acquisition represents Amadeus's continued expansion into complementary technology areas that enhance its core travel platform offerings. The deal follows the company's recent strategic acquisitions including Vision-Box for biometric services and Voxel for payment solutions, demonstrating Amadeus's commitment to creating integrated travel technology ecosystems.