Scottish TMC bought by Direct Travel
US-based travel management company Direct Travel has bought Colpitts World Travel, including its two offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
The Colpitts offices will continue to trade under their own brand ‘for the foreseeable future’, said Direct Travel, and the Scottish-based operations will retain their staff and management teams.
Direct Travel, which has annual sales of more than US$18 billion, said the acquisition was part of its business strategy and operational plan to expand through acquisition and organic growth.
Colpitts, based in Massachusetts, has worldwide sales of over £70 million.
Ian Scholes, director of European Operations of Colpitts, said: "This strategic partnership allows an agency of our size to gain significant advantage with suppliers and allows us to deliver new innovative technologies and enhanced services to our customers."
"Direct Travel is affiliated with GlobalStar Travel Management which gives us access to a network of leading travel management companies in more than 85 countries and 3,500 locations worldwide.
"Under the Direct Travel umbrella we can therefore offer even greater innovation and quality in the services we deliver for our clients with much greater scope to deliver quantifiable savings through the size and scale of our global operation."
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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