Travel wholesaler AC Group expects to boost annual turnover by £8 million in 2017-18 with the acquisition of MW Tours and Paris-based French Travel Partners.
The group now has offices in London, Kent, Paris and New York, and expects to see a group turnover of £25 million for the current financial year.
FTP Tours becomes the fourth brand under the AC Group umbrella, while MW Tours merges with destination management arm AC Luxe.
MW Tours works with hotels in the UK and Paris that appeal to North American travellers.
The company has held an exclusive long-term relationship with Avanti Destinations, a US outbound specialist with 37 years’ experience selling to travel agents including AAA, Virtuoso, Signature, Travel Leaders and Ensemble.
FTP was founded in 1985 and is one of the leading inbound operators to France.
AC Group Joint managing director Malcolm Lindop said: ‘The New York office will not only enhance existing inbound business opportunities, it provides the perfect platform to develop new overseas opportunities.
“The launch of the new office creates a local approach and greater efficiencies to our US outbound clients ensuring AC Group secures the best hotel rates and availability.”
Lindop added: “MW Tours excels in a niche that is very complimentary to our brand AC Luxe, and the teams’ combined expertise ensures we’ll continue to excel in a highly selective market.
“Our central London hub provides a UK command centre, and our acquisition of French Travel Partners, with their Paris headquarters, enables us to cover our guests in France more effectively.
“We’re now providing hands on support to our travellers in the market and can offer locally-based contracting and sales experts to ensure we secure the best hotel rates and availability.
“With these two acquisitions, The AC Group continues its sustainable growth, ensuring a robust future for all our brands, and the delivery of outstanding experiences and service for discerning travellers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Joint managing director Rob Russell, said: “The diversity of our brands ensures we have a combination of business types that compliment each other and ensure we consistently perform to exceed customers’ expectations.
“The range, expertise and client trust these acquisitions bring will help ensure we continue to deliver excellent service and exclusive experiences to UK, European and US travellers.”