Scott Dunn acquires Imagine Travel
Luxury operator Scott Dunnis has acquired long-haul specialist Imagine Travel to give it an estimated combined turnover of £60 million in the next financial year.
Imagine was founded in 2004 to offer luxury holidays to Africa, but it has since grown to offer Latin America, India and Asia.
It expects to report revenues of around £13 million this financial year, it said.
The brand will remain in place but Scott Dunn said it had made a significant invesmtnet in the business and it will provide "vital support" in marketing, IT, HR, commercial and operations to allow Imagine to grow more rapidly.
Scott Dunn, founded 27 years ago, employs over 100 people in the UK as well as several hundred overseas and has a turnover of around £35 million.
Chairman Andew Dunn said: "Scott Dunn and Imagine have very little overlap in terms of guests so this investment makes absolute sense in terms of our ambitious growth plans and Imagine’s desire to enter new markets with our support.
"We will be able to share our significant expertise in the luxury travel sector with the talented Imagine team, enabling them to potentially expand into areas that they don’t yet serve, as well as offer even better service to their guests.
"For the coming financial year, our combined turnover is expected to be close to £60million, enabling us to move towards an ultimate goal of £100million of revenues by 2016 through organic and acquisitive growth."
Imagine founder Ben Morison said: "Scott Dunn and Imagine make a perfect fit. With this investment we can continue to grow into new markets, invest in our operations and build a strong team that has exceptional knowledge of Africa and newer markets such as Latin America and Asia."
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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