Harvey World owner acquires Travel 2/4
Travelport has sold long haul trade-only operator Travel2/4 to the Australian owner of Harvey World Travel.
It is the largest UK acquisition by S8, an Australian owned leisure property and travel organisation, although the value of the deal was undisclosed.
Travel 2/4 will be managed independently of any other S8 companies, retaining its focus as a trade business, S8 said. Managing director Maria Whiteman (pictured) will continue in her role.
Gordon Wilson, president and CEO Travelport Business Group, including responsibility for Travel 2/4, said: “Owning a leading trade consolidator and tour operator is no longer such a pivotal part of Travelport’s business, and so we determined that Travel 2 Travel 4’s next phase of development would be better served by an owner who has the requisite focus to build further on what we have achieved.”
S8 (UK) managing director Andrew Laurie (pictured) said: “We are looking forward to growing the UK business and helping to expand S8’s capabilities in the long haul market.
“As one of the largest owners of leisure property management rights in Australasia, and one of Australasia’s leading travel distribution companies, we see a great opportunity to share technical expertise between our wholesale businesses, as well as providing Travel 2 Travel 4 customers with advantaged access to our wide ranging accommodation products.
Whiteman said: “We are delighted to be joining one of the industry’s most dynamic organisations and look forward to working closely with the S8 management team to provide further success for our suppliers and travel agent customers.
“Existing plans to invest in technology will continue as we aim to develop our systems to deliver the highest standards of service expected by our travel agent customers.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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