Hoseasons snaps up villa specialist

HOSEASONS has acquired upmarket independent French villa and farmhouse operator Bowhills for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition was made by Hoseasons Holdings, 80%-owned by venture capital firm HG Capital. Bowhills will be sold through agents for the first time when its 2005 brochure launches this autumn.

Hoseasons currently only sells holiday parks in France. Its staff will promote Bowhills through agents, with a target of 10% trade sales in the first year.

Chief executive Richard Carrick said Bowhills would bring product previously not available to the trade.

“We’ve done this to get into a market we’re not currently represented in,” he said.

Hampshire-based Bowhills has 325 properties in France and 25 staff. No redundancies are planned.

General manager Marianne Wanstall has been made managing director and owner Carol Bowhill will stay on as associate director.