The Travel House is continuing its aggressive expansion plans by acquiring eight branches of Bristol-based miniple Thornton’s Travel Service for an undisclosed sum.
Travel House general manager Miles Morgan said the eight branches would be rebranded to Travel House within the next week and all 30 staff will retain their positions. The locations are in Clifton, Staplehill, Filton, Keynsham, Portishead, Nailsea, Clevedon and Yatton.
Morgan said Travel House had beaten off competition from other major operators to acquire Thornton’s. “Thornton’s has excellent locations and there is a great opportunity to expand the business.”
He added the company was in talks to purchase other agencies. Travel House is the only part of the Thomson Travel Group which has been given the remit to continue its expansion plans. Last month Thomson infuriated a number of independent agents after scrapping its plan to acquire more independent agents. (Travel Weekly September 27)
Thornton’s managing director Pat Murphy owned the agencies with Frank Thornton, the son of founder Eric, and a Belgian-based shareholder. The company was set up in 1940.
Thornton’s has retained its head office in Bristol. A Teletext division based at Bristol International Airport has also been kept. Thornton’s director Anne Taylor said: “Things are changing and Travel House gave us a good offer.”