HOSEASONS has acquired upmarket independent French
villa and farmhouse operator Bowhills for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition was made by Hoseasons Holdings,
80%-owned by venture capital firm HG Capital. Bowhills will be sold through
agents for the first time when its 2005 brochure launches this autumn.
Hoseasons currently only sells holiday parks in
France. Its staff will promote Bowhills through agents, with a target of 10%
trade sales in the first year.
Chief executive Richard Carrick said Bowhills would
bring product previously not available to the trade.
“We’ve done this to get into a market we’re not
currently represented in,” he said.
Hampshire-based Bowhills has 325 properties in France
and 25 staff. No redundancies are planned.
General manager Marianne
Wanstall has been made managing director and owner Carol Bowhill will stay on
as associate director.