Expotel gets new owner
Hotel booking company Expotel says it is business as usual following its purchase by Capita plc.
The company and all of its subsidiaries have been acquired by the travel management group, which plans to run it as a specialist meetings and events division.
Capita has been gradually expanding its presence in the UK following its purchase of Lonsdale Travel in November 2005 and its acquisition of BSI in December 2010.
Trevor Elswood, managing director of Capita’s travel business, said: "The acquisition is consistent with our strategy of bringing together the industry’s best specialists to create a unique UK travel management proposition in addition to offering leading specialist services in each individual area".
The combined company will employ nearly 900 staff in 10 locations.
Expotel CEO Ian Sparks said: "It’s our expectation that as a result of this acquisition and subsequent merger, we will be able to deliver additional benefits in service and choice for our customers and offer our suppliers much greater exposure across the UK business travel market.
"It’s very much business as usual."
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026