Flight Centre to mind the gap
Flight Centre has snapped up a social networking business that focuses on the growing “gap year†market.
The company has acquired gapyear.com, a UK-based website dedicated to providing information, products and a ready-made social network to travellers preparing for or undertaking an extended international break.
The site has operated since 1998 and has developed a strong brand presence within its core market.
The business generates marketing and advertising income from travel and other companies and is the top ranked website in its category in Google.
FLT marketing manager Colin Bowman said, “An increasing number of people globally are now choosing to take off overseas for an extended gap year break, whether it be after completing school or university, between careers or before retirement.â€
FLT has initially acquired an 80 percent holding in gapyear.com and has an option to acquire the remaining 20 percent from founder Tom Griffiths, who will continue to run the business.
Griffiths said, “The ability to bolt gapyear.com into an established global network of stores and online brands will enable us to deliver a targeted trip planning service local to the end user, globally and age specific.â€
FLT has not disclosed the size of its investment in the website.
Ian Jarrett
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