A major cruise company has been sold to a travel giant in a huge milestone move.
Hays Travel has purchased Cruise.co.uk parent Victoria Travel Group, the company’s biggest deal since it bought 555 Thomas Cook travel agents back in 2019.
The new deal is the northern-based company’s first online travel agency acquisition and includes the Seascanner business as well as German Kreuzfahrtberater.de.
Chris Gardner, chief executive of Victoria Travel Group, will remain in charge of the business.
UK managing director Tony Andrews, German managing director Tom Reiter and group chief financial officer Carl Tromans will also continue in their roles.
Meanwhile, Bridgepoint, which was a majority shareholder in Victoria Travel Group, will pull out.
The business reportedly had a £252million transactional value in the last financial year.
Hays Travel began trading back in 1980 and started out as a small shop in Seaham, County Durham.
Hays Travel has purchased Cruise.co.uk parent Victoria Travel Group, the company’s biggest deal since it bought 555 Thomas Cook travel agents back in 2019
The new deal is the northern-based company’s first online travel agency acquisition and includes the Seascanner business as well as German Kreuzfahrtberater.de (stock image)
Chris Gardner, chief executive of Victoria Travel Group, pictured right with Hays Travel Dame Irene Hays, will remain in charge of the business
On the new deal, Hays Travel Dame Irene Hays described Victoria Travel Group as ‘innovative’.
According to Ttg Media, she said: ‘We have been hugely impressed by the strength of the Victoria Travel Group.
‘Their innovative approach to online cruise retailing and the calibre of their management team make Victoria Travel a compelling addition to our business, which aligns with our cruise strategy and growth ambitions.
‘We are delighted to welcome Chris, Carl, Tony and Tom to our Hays Travel group; they share our values and are all exceptional at what they do.
‘We look forward to working alongside them, exploring opportunities and learning from each other as we seek to continuously improve the choice, experience and value we offer our customers.’
While Chris Gardner expressed how ‘delighted’ the company was to be joining Hays.
He said: ‘We’re delighted to be joining the Hays Travel family. Their values, customer-first approach, and long-term vision align with ours.
‘This partnership opens up exciting opportunities to grow our brands and deliver even more value to cruise customers in the UK and internationally.’
Hays Travel began trading back in 1980 and started out as a small shop in Seaham, County Durham
Hays Travel has made several business moves and acquisitions in recent years.
In 2023, the independent travel company purchased Just Go Travel after the two businesses had worked together as franchise partners.
Hays Travel also acquired south Wales agency Travel House in the same year.
While during the pandemic, in 2020 the devastated owners of Hays Travel revealed they were forced to axe 878 staff after the Spain quarantine brought holiday bookings to a halt.
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