Travelopia sells North American education brands
Travelopia has sold its North American Experience Education brands (NAEE) to WorldStrides for an undisclosed sum.
The sale includes World Class Vacations and Brightspark US, serving the US educational market, and Brightspark Canada, Jumpstreet and Educatours in Canada.
Travelopia boss Andy Duncan revealed at the ABTA Convention last month that Travelopia, which was previously TUI’s specialist holiday division before being sold to private equity firm KKR last year for £325 million, wanted to be left with just 10 brands, down from more than 50, within a year.
Today, he said: "Our strategy under KKR ownership is to become the world’s best experiential travel company by focussing on a select number of brands in the Travelopia Group and the sale of these brands is a further step forward towards this ambition."
The acquisition of NAEE will enable WorldStrides to expand its broad travel programme for music, theatre and dance groups, and will enhance its teacher-led, curriculum-based tour offerings globally.
The brands will continue to operate under separate brand names with discrete programming options, said NAEE.
NAEE chief operating and chief finance officer Bill Irwin said "We are excited to join a company that lives our mission every day. The opportunities for collaboration, growth and learning are endless and myself and the team look forward to the journey ahead with WorldStrides."
Duncan added: "The NAEE brands are excellent businesses with a strong track record of delivering exceptional developmental travel experiences to students, which fits perfectly within the WorldStrides portfolio.
"I am delighted for Bill and the team as they continue their growth story with WorldStrides. We thank them for their hard work and wish them the best of luck under their new ownership."
The deal completed on November 4 and the terms were not disclosed.
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
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
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements