Barrhead Travel bought by US company
Barrhead Travel Group has been sold to an American company for an undisclosed sum.
Travel Leaders Group confirmed today that it had acquired the Glasgow-based independent retailer.
The sale is expected to complete in the first quarter.
"Barrhead is a great addition to our family of brands. It’s an innovative, award-winning travel business that is on a trajectory for continued growth," said Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko.
"From its high-touch retail travel superstores to its online presence, Barrhead offers personalised attention, technology tools, highly-trained travel specialists and a wide range of travel products and services.
"Bill and Sharon Munro have devoted their careers to building this extraordinary business. We’re pleased that the Munro family is entrusting the future of Barrhead, its employees, agents and customers to our organisation. We’re excited about this chance to expand our presence in Scotland and the UK overall and the opportunities this affords both companies."
Barrhead will retain its brand identity within the Travel Leaders UK portfolio. Chief executive Sharon Munro will continue to manage the business.
Her father and Barrhead founder, Bill Munro, will serve in a strategic advisory role as chairman of the Barrhead division within Travel Leaders Group
No major changes in operations are anticipated, they said.
"Joining with Travel Leaders Group will give us the resources to expand into additional markets, access to new technology and the ability to innovate," said Sharon Munro.
"This agreement creates exciting new prospects for both our enterprises."
Bill Munro added: "This is great news for our staff, our customers and our suppliers."
Once the transaction is finalised, Travel Leaders UK portfolio will include Barrhead, Colletts Travel, Protravel International UK and Tzell UK.
New York-based Travel Leaders was created from the management buyout of Carlson Leisure Group in 2008.
Its brands include All Aboard Travel, CruiseDeals, Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, SinglesCruise and Tzell Travel Group.
It claims to have sales volumes of almost $21 billion a year and has over 40.000 travel agents working in a variety of brands.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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