THomson-owned Travel House has acquired four-strong Welsh agency Holiday World for an undisclosed sum taking its number of outlets to 43.
It follows the acquisition last week of six-shop Midlands miniple James Travel (Travel Weekly August 9).
Deals for two further stand-alone retailers in Wales are expected to be completed this week while Bristol-based Thorntons Travel is also believed to be a target for Travel House as it eyes the southwest for further expansion.
Holiday World’s four shops, in Aberdare, Blackwood, Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil, have a combined turnover of £6m. All staff will be retained and the shops rebranded Travel House.
Managing director Martin Morgan said he was now only three or four shops away from completing his expansion in Wales. “We are now focusing on the southwest and our first target is Bristol,” he said.
Morgan is believed to be lining up another bid for Thorntons after twice being rejected by the 10-shop chain.
Thorntons managing director Patrick Murphy admitted it had been approached by Travel House in the past month but said no formal bid had been made.