Virgin Holidays has bought online and call centre cruise agency Fast Track Holidays. The acquisition means the tour operator can expand cruise-and-stay holiday sales worldwide.
Fast Track will continue to operate from its Swindon offices but will trade as part of Virgin Holidays later this year.
Virgin Holidays confirmed the deal was completed on Monday. Both companies refused to confirm rumours last week, despite repeated calls from Travel Weekly. It is understood the company had been looking at ways to enter the cruise market for some time.
Sales and operations director Stewart Baird said: “We are looking at our distribution.”
The operator has a tie-up with high-street retail chain Harvey World Travel, which uses Virgin’s name on shop fronts and promotes offers in stores.
It is thought the recent mergers of the big four into two travel companies, which are increasingly driving product in-house, has increased pressure on operators to secure further distribution channels.