Gray Dawes Group has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Netherlands-based travel management business VCK Travel.
The deal, which was concluded on January 3, takes the group’s turnover to over £500 million and increases its workforce to nearly 500 worldwide.
In addition to its core travel management business, Gray Dawes Group also has specialist MICE, luxury leisure and consulting divisions.
Chief executive Suzanne Horner said: “This latest chapter in our development – Gray Dawes’ 14th acquisition to date – marks such an exciting time for us and our customers.
“Our clients increasingly want global solutions, even the smaller ones. They’re taking us on the journey. We’ve been very successful picking up businesses in the UK and integrating them. We know how to do that well. Now, following our expansion last year into Australia and the USA, we’ve been doing that internationally.”
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Horner added: “Our expansion into Europe is incredibly exciting. It represents the next step in our global growth plan and closes the circle on our unique service delivery strategy.”
VCK Travel managing director Ed Berrevoets said: “I am very excited by the opportunity to work with Suzanne and her team, and thrilled for VCK Travel’s staff to be part of such an exciting and award-winning travel management company.
“There are so many synergies across the businesses which makes this a very natural fit. By being part of the Gray Dawes Group, we will be able to leverage the strengths of both companies to deliver enhanced global opportunities to our staff and clients alike.”
Fergus Glenapp, chairman of Gray Dawes, added: “We are delighted to have acquired a business of VCK’s reputation and length of operation. It gives us an exceptional European platform from which to continue to grow our operations around the world.”