03 July 2009

Holiday Experts acquired by Vertical Group

Travel technology company The Vertical Group has purchased the trading assets of Holiday Experts protecting almost 30 jobs.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, includes websites, database, bookings and intellectual property rights.

A new trading division of Vertical Group which will trade as a Freedom Travel Group member under subsidiary Miss Ellies Travel.

Holiday Experts had been trading for four years and was based in Barrow, Cumbria.

Vertical group CEO Peter Healey said: "Holiday Experts has an excellent brand profile and position in the homeworking sector of the market.

"We are fortunate to be in a position whereby we could purchase The Holiday Experts assets and in doing so protect the 29 homeworkers and management team and more importantly the Holiday Expert clients and all of their bookings, which have been transferred to Miss Ellies Travel and are now protected under the Freedom Travel's ABTA and ATOL.

"Mike Russell will remain in the business as managing director and will manage the integration of the 29 strong team of homeworkers and administration support team with the services provided by Miss Ellies and Freedom Travel.

"Holiday Experts have led the way in developing a strong web presence to generate leads and adding them to our portfolio will allow us to support the continued growth of this area from within our existing businesses.

"In these challenging times there is a need to lower overheads and control costs.

"In joining Freedom Travel, we have achieved that objective."

Other Vertical Group brands include, TARSC, www.bedbank.com and www.bedbankski.com .

by Phil Davies