W&O extends online booking with Key2Holidays deal
Specialist luxury travel group Western & Oriental is paying £1.7 million for online operator Key2Holidays.
The London-based firm specialises in the Middle East and Indian Ocean.
Key2Holidays has recently launched a bespoke online booking engine for selected new destinations such as Dubai and the Maldives.
W&O described the acquisition as “an exciting and important step forward”, which will enable the group to extend this online booking capability into a number of existing brands for the first time.
Raj Kumar, managing director and sole shareholder of Key2Holidays, becomes business development director for the group, bringing “significant online and tour operation experience”.
He founded The Destination Group in 1992, an online tour operator that was sold to lastminute.com in 2002.
Key2Holidays made a pre-tax profit of £53,000 in the year to September 2006 with assets of £250,000. A profit of at least £150,000 is projected for the current financial year.
The business will be re-located to W&O’s main office in Victoria, which is expected to result in immediate cost savings and potential for increased profitability, the company said.
“The acquisition further increases the scale and reach of the group, enabling it to take advantage of cost synergies and cross selling opportunities to its increasing customer base,” a statement said.
“The acquisition is the first since the group raised additional funds in June 2007 to continue in its buy and build strategy and lead the consolidation of the luxury travel sector.”
WQ&O chairman David Howell said: “This is the eighth acquisition we have made since our float in March 2006 and builds on the momentum achieved to date.
“I am also delighted that Raj is joining the Western & Oriental plc board. He brings significant additional travel experience to the board and will have a key role ensuring that online booking capability is extended across the group where appropriate.”
Kumar said he believed his experience in integration and operations will help “further develop the successful acquisition strategy that will see Western & Oriental diversify into other luxury holiday destinations”.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026