HARVEY World Travel has acquired Lets Go Travel for an undisclosed sum as part of a growth strategy that could see it owning nearly 100 shops in the next 10 days.
The acquisition of the southwest miniple’s 34 shops means HWT now has 63 shops. HWT has also bought Lets Go’s Barnstaple call centre, its business travel and cruise arms Lets Go Corporate and Lets Go Cruising.
Former Lets Go managing director Simon Maunder – who founded the business 21 years ago – has relinquished all control of the business.
HWT UK managing director John Donnelly said further deals are imminent, bringing in the additional shops.
“We’re growing a brand that will be well recognised on the high street. We’ve been very strategic about what businesses we take on. I knew Lets Go was a good business – that’s why I approached Simon. This will give us penetration in the southwest.”
Shops will be rebranded with HWT and Virgin Holidays’ logos within four weeks. Donnelly does not expect this to impact on sales due to good shop locations and customer loyalty to staff. However, he admitted a regional advertising campaign might be necessary to push the HWT brand.
Changes already planned for Lets Go agencies in Cornwall are webcams showing surfers on Australia’s Gold Coast, where HWT’s parent company is based, to encourage local surfers to book holidays there.
Shops will be controlled by Lets Go’s head office – the new regional HQ for HWT’s southwest business. No redundancies are forecast.
All commercial deals will be centralised, although Donnelly said this would not mean major changes. Around 35% of HWT’s bookings are for Australasia.
Staff will be expected to pass HWT’s three-month training on cruise, long-haul travel to the southern hemisphere and Virgin Holidays.
Maunder said HWT’s commitment to independent agencies had been the deal-closer, adding: “Our client base is already heavily focused on southern hemisphere travel.”