The Eden Collection’s acquisition of Seasons in Style should lead to better commercial deals for both brands and will pave the way for further acquisitions.
Group managing director of The Eden Luxury Travel Group, which was set up as part of the acquisition to control both companies, Paul Beacall said the group was keen to negotiate new deals giving agents who deal with either operator access to both.
He said the acquisition could also allow the group to negotiate better deals with suppliers by renegotiating commercial deals.
Beacall said no redundancies were being made following the deal, which will see Eden’s 10 staff members move to Seasons in Style’s nearby offices in Chester, where 45 staff are currently employed.
Although both brands will trade separately in the market, Beacall said they would share Seasons’ product and marketing teams.
Beacall said the group, which is backed by venture capitalists Opus Ventures, will now consider making further acquisitions.
He said: “The next 12 months will see us bedding in with Seasons, but then we will be looking at acquiring other businesses in the luxury market, although they will probably be specialists.”
Seasons in Style is not the first luxury operator to have been bought this winter, Virgin Holidays announced the acquisition of Bales Worldwide in December 2009.