Superbreak Mini Holidays has acquired rival tour operator Highlife Breaks for an undisclosed sum, sparking fears of redundancies.
Superbreak sales director Ian Mounser said the deal had been struck to access parent company Thistle Hotels product, which includes several key hotels in London where Superbreak enjoyed 58% year on year growth in revenue last month.
He said: “Being able to sell Thistle Hotels adds around 50 properties to the 1,200, and in London they’ve got some really well placed, important and large hotels which we now have access to.
“We expect to do more business in the capital’s hotels and it will give travel agents the chance to grow their overall sales.”
Thistle Hotels sales and marketing director Stuart Leven said the sale would allow Thistle to focus on its core business as a hotel management company and added the Highlife’s 21 staff now face a consultation to find out if they will be absorbed by the hotelier. He added: “We’re hoping to retain all if not most of our staff.”
The deal takes effect immediately, meaning all new enquiries received by Highlife Breaks will now be handled by Superbreak. All existing bookings for arrival on or after January 1 next year will be rebooked and administered by Superbreak.
Current Highlife brochures will continue to be distributed to agents while Highlife Breaks vouchers will be redeemable with Superbreak. Mounser said no decision had been taken on the future of the Highlife brand.
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