Active Travel Group has expanded into Italy with the acquisition of the cycling interests of a specialist adventure operator.
The deal with Inspired Italy for an undisclosed sum has been made by the parent company of Cycling for Softies, BSpoke Tours, Ski Solutions and Wilderness Group.
The acquisition of the cycling assets and goodwill of Inspired Italy creates Active Travel Group’s sixth European operating base for leisure cycling and its first in Italy, complementing French operations in Provence, Loire Valley, Champagne and Bordeaux, and UK bases in Sussex and the Cotswolds.
The acquisition provides a platform for cycle operations to be offered in the heart of the central Italian regions of Tuscany and Umbria.
Active Travel Group was backed by Mobeus Equity Partners in 2017 and has annual sales of almost £40 million
Cycling for Softies has initially launched two self-guided and two fully guided leisure cycling itineraries of 5-7 nights duration, each starting from the hilltop town of Cortona on the border of Tuscany and Umbria. Tours include e-bikes as standard, with itineraries taking in gastronomy and wines of the region, supported on the ground by destination experts.
Itineraries can be tailor-made with extra stops, particular hotel choices, city stopovers as well as all travel to and from the UK.
Inspired Italy will further develop winter adventures to appeal to skiers worldwide having divested its summer activity to long time partner Active Travel Group.
Active Travel Group chief executive Craig Burton said: “We have worked in partnership with Tim Hudson and the Inspired Italy team for several years as they have developed a unique and highly desirable programme of cycle tours in Tuscany and Umbria.
“With Inspired Italy seeking to divest its cycle interests to focus on their award-winning winter Dolomite ski safaris, we jumped at the opportunity to take the cycle business forward under our ownership.”
Tour prices start at £1,175 per person for a five-night tour, including e-bike hire, GPS navigation, half-board meals, accommodation, and luggage transfers.