Resort development company Minoan Group has continued its expansion in Scotland with the purchase of John Semple Travel.
The move follows the group’s acquisiton of Scottish agency chain King World Travel in March and the purchase of an interest in Stewart Travel Centre in June.
Glasgow-based John Semple Travel specialises in cruise and Canada. Its founder, John Semple, passed away in August after a long illness. His four children run the business.
Minoan chairman Christopher Egleton said: “I am delighted that following this acquisition our first cluster in Scotland will have been substantially completed. We have continually stated the benefits of growing operations in the travel and leisure sector and this latest deal highlights the rapid progress we have made to date.”
The group is planning a resort on a 240-hectare plot of land in Crete. It is going through a fast-track planning process for a 7,000-bed eco-friendly resort of five luxury hotels, three golf courses, a marina and 1,000 villas. Kempinski and Six Senses Resorts & Spas have signed up to be in the resort.
Egleton said: “In Greece we continue to focus on bringing the Crete project to fruition.”
Minoan managing director Duncan Wilson, a former MyTravel chief executive, has said the group has a a ‘buy and build’ strategy to make an acquisition every three months.