Miles Morgan Travel has bought World Market Travel in Bath for an undisclosed sum.
The company gained ownership of the shop, its 14th, this week, with World Market Travel becoming its highest-turnover agency.
Former joint owners Peter and Tim Giles are continuing part-time for at least a year as they enter semi-retirement.
Miles Morgan Travel managing director Miles Morgan (pictured) said the shop would be renamed Miles Morgan Travel “over time”.
World Market Travel became the first Kuoni partner store four years ago and has sold at least £1 million worth of the operator’s holidays a year since then – about a fifth of its annual turnover. The Kuoni name also appears on the shop’s fascia.
Morgan has yet to announce whether the Kuoni partnership will be retained, with talks planned for September.
“It could well continue or stop; we will decide once we’ve sat down with Kuoni,” he said.
“This is a successful business in the perfect location. Where we differ is we are more active on marketing and we will do a lot to drive more people through the door.”
Kuoni UK managing director Derek Jones said: “World Market Travel has performed extremely well for us and the Kuoni brand has become well-established in Bath. We’ll be sitting down with Miles to talk about the way forward over the next few months.”
Peter Giles, whose sons Stephen and Richard also work in the business, added: “I would hope our partnership with Kuoni continues but it is not my prerogative.”
All seven staff are staying with the business, which has left Advantage Travel Partnership and joined Hays Independence Group as part of the acquisition.
Tim Giles said the deal would make life easier, given the costs of Iata bonding, Abta fees and shop rents making it “increasingly difficult” for small agencies.
Morgan said both businesses value good-quality, long-serving staff, adding: “The staff are the ‘X factor’ as far as I am concerned.”