Specialist operators Experience Travel Group and Holiday Architects have announced a travel merger. They are coming together under the ownership of a new umbrella company while retaining their brands and premises in London and Cheltenham. Inquisitive Traveller’ has been launched to leverage the strengths of each brand and harness combined expertise. The travel merger will see the tour operators collaborate in various areas including sustainability and combine in-house resources from technology platforms. While not customer facing, Inquisitive Traveller will have a focus on the 50-plus, medium-to-long haul tailor-made market. Over time, Inquisitive Traveller will seek investment to build a group of brands. “We are really excited to be harnessing our mutual strengths to boost our offer and impact,” Experience Travel Group MD Sam Clark said. “We are particularly excited about the opportunities to come together and collaborate on areas of importance.” Clark and Holiday Architects MD Andrew Hunt will continue in their respective positions while also sitting on the Inquisitive Traveller board. The merger sees Inquisitive Traveller employ a combined staff of 40, operating across more than 30 countries. It is forecasting departures with a value of £16 million by the end of 2023.