Travelopia has sold its North American Experience Education brands to WorldStrides.
The educational student travel specialist has bought World Class Vacations, Brightspark, and Canadian brands Brightspark Canada, Jumpstreet and Educatours from Travelopia for an undisclosed sum.
The brands, which will retain their names, offer educational tours, performance-based events and out-of-classroom travel experiences.
WorldStrides says the acquisition will expand its programme of music, theatre and dance groups, and enhance its teacher-led, curriculum-based tour offerings. It suplies tours for more than 400,000 students every year.
Bill Irwin, chief operating officer of the North America Experience Education division, said: “We are excited to join a company that lives our mission every day. The opportunities for collaboration, growth and learning are endless and myself and the team look forward to the journey ahead with WorldStrides.”
Andy Duncan, chief executive of Travelopia, who has previously outlined his wish to reduce the number of Travelopia brands, added: “The NAEE brands are excellent businesses with a strong track record of delivering exceptional developmental travel experiences to students, which fits perfectly within the WorldStrides portfolio.
“Our strategy under KKR ownership is to become the world’s best experiential travel company by focussing on a select number of brands in the Travelopia Group and the sale of these brands is a further step forward towards this ambition.
“I am delighted for Bill and the team as they continue their growth story with WorldStrides. We thank them for their hard work and wish them the best of luck under their new ownership.”
The deal completed on November 4 and Travelopia was advised by GCA Altium.
