Youtravel outlines expansion plans
John Kent speaks to Graham McKenzie of TravelMole in Corfu
Youtravel has opened an office in London to spearhead its expansion plans.
Speaking from Corfu at the company’s annual VIP trip, founder John Kent said the group is looking to expand the company with the backing of its new Abu Dhabi financiers.
“We left Barclays on very good terms and they were exceptional through our first few years. Our relationship with our new financiers, however, allows us to be much more opportunistic and quicker with our expansion and investment plans,” he said.
Aquis and YouTravel now share corporate head offices in Greece and Kent said economies of scale, such as technology, have already started to kick in.
“Aquis is now the second largest Hotel group in Greece with 12,000 rooms and the coming months will see us upgrade our existing portfolio and add other properties in other countries,” he said.
“These properties are only available to the trade through YouTravel on an accommodation-only basis and we intend to develop this as theme – Exclusive properties through YouTravel.
“If we add in a B2C element and transfers we will have a vertically integrated Travel group that could benefit from many economies and offer our clients even better services and products across the industry trade and consumer.”
Kent said acquisition is the company’s preferred route.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia