Altour snaps up UK travel agency
London-based Walsh International Travel has been acquired by US-based travel management company Altour.
The deal, which comes into effect on December 1, will increase Altour’s UK turnover to more than £40 million.
Walsh International Travel will continue to operate as a separate business division within the Altour Group, but staff will move into Altour’s London office.
Walsh International is currently owned by John Walsh and Chris Watson.
Walsh is staying with the company but Watson will leave and focus on other interests outside travel.
Nigel Parkinson, Altour’s general manager, said: “It has long been Altour’s objective to grow our European footprint to complement the US business.
“We are in conversation with individuals about becoming self-employed but within the Altour organisation and also in dialogue with potential European partners in key markets.”
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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