Luxury villa and chalet group sold
UK-based luxury accommodation specialist Alpine Guru has been acquired by a Swiss travel agency for an undisclosed sum.
Its two brands – Villa Guru and Alpine Guru – will be retained by the new owners, Leo Trippi AG, an agency specialising in luxury chalet and villa rentals.
Alpine Guru founders Oliver Corkhill and Anthony Cullen will join Leo Trippi as shareholders and directors and all existing staff will be retained.
The UK company, which started five years ago, will continue to run from its existing office in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
Corkhill said: "The synergy between Leo Trippi and Alpine Guru Ltd was inarguable and the joining of forces simply made perfect sense.
"Joining Leo Trippi is an incredibly exciting step towards our next phase of growth, working together to consolidate our position in the market as well as continuing to expand our portfolio of over 700 properties worldwide.
"Being part of the Leo Trippi Group leadership team will allow us the opportunity and resources to strategically grow each of the brands – the future is looking very bright."
Leo Trippi, which will remain based in Switzerland, acquired First Class Holidays in 2014, bolstering its market share within the luxury villa rental market.
Auret van Zyl, Leo Trippi co-founder and chairman, said: "Alpine Guru Ltd is an ideal fit for Leo Trippi.
"In terms of future plans, we plan to integrate the businesses and use this as a springboard for organic and inorganic growth, continuing to develop our positions as market leaders for chalet and villa rentals globally."
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements