Travel Leaders Group Acquires The Andrew Harper Travel Office and The Andrew Harper Alliance

Addition of Two Andrew Harper Assets Further Strengthens and Solidifies Travel Leaders Group's Leadership Role in Luxury Travel

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Travel Leaders Group

Jan 30, 2017, 10:30 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, Travel Leaders Group formally acquired The Andrew Harper Travel Office and The Andrew Harper Alliance, thus further bolstering Travel Leaders Group's positioning as North America's leading luxury travel agency company, now with the industry's unrivaled luxury and ultra-luxury hotel amenity program. The sale enables the editorial division of Andrew Harper (publisher of the Hideaway Report, The Andrew Harper Collection and AndrewHarper.com) – which was not included in the acquisition – to remain focused on providing unbiased reviews and sophisticated travel reports. Travel Leaders Group is North America's largest traditional travel agency company with nearly $21 billion in annual sales volume.

The Andrew Harper Travel Office and The Andrew Harper Alliance have been acquired by Travel Leaders Group, North America's largest traditional travel agency company. Andrew Harper Editorial is not included as part of the sale.

The Andrew Harper Travel Office and The Andrew Harper Alliance were both launched in 1994. The Andrew Harper Travel Office was opened to serve as a full-service travel agency to benefit Andrew Harper's ultra-wealthy subscribers. The Andrew Harper Alliance was established as an amenity-driven hotel program – with 600 ultra-luxury, bespoke properties globally – previously available exclusively to Andrew Harper subscribers.

"Through the addition of both the travel office and alliance from Andrew Harper, we are significantly strengthening and solidifying Travel Leaders Group's position as North America's preeminent seller of luxury travel," noted Ninan Chacko, CTC, Chief Executive Officer for Travel Leaders Group. "The Andrew Harper Alliance hotel platform is unmatched in its worldwide luxury properties, offering the most desirable travel experiences available to their discerning clientele. This further propels Travel Leaders Group beyond its already enviable place at the forefront of luxury travel."

"Clients of The Andrew Harper Travel Office will continue working with the same exceptional consultants, thus enjoying the impeccable levels of high-touch service that they have come to expect. Yet now through Travel Leaders Group's ownership, they will benefit from privileged access to an array of travel offerings that a larger platform can deliver," explained John D. Cullen, Chief Executive Officer for Andrew Harper Travel. "The editorial division of Andrew Harper will remain under its current ownership, creating separation that will eliminate any perceived conflict of interest between our independent publications and ownership of a travel business."

Both The Andrew Harper Travel Office and The Andrew Harper Alliance will continue to operate as they are. While the editorial division is not included in the acquisition, Travel Leaders Group is entering a commercial agreement with Andrew Harper Editorial to support certain ongoing service functions and market its memberships. No additional details of the transaction are being divulged.

Travel Leaders Group is one of North America's largest travel companies – encompassing nearly one-third of all travel agents – and is the largest seller of luxury travel, cruises, river cruises and tours in the travel agency industry. Travel Leaders Group is a leader in both the retail travel agency space and corporate travel, and it consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies nationwide.

About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group (www.travelleadersgroup.com) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients via our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers – through our beginnings as Carlson Leisure Group, a division of Carlson Companies, TraveLeaders and Tzell Travel Group and through the additions of Nexion, Vacation.com and Protravel International – Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. With annual sales approaching $21 billion through over 7,000 locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry's largest traditional travel agency companies.

About Andrew Harper
Since 1979, Andrew Harper (www.andrewharper.com) has been traveling incognito to write candid reviews of the world's finest hotels and resorts for a private community of affluent and sophisticated travelers. In order to receive Mr. Harper's recommendation, properties must offer a distinctive character, a commitment to sincere hospitality and a profound sense of place.

The selection of hotels, resorts and restaurants published in the Hideaway Report and The Andrew Harper Collection and on AndrewHarper.com is made on a completely independent basis, with Andrew Harper LLC paying full rate for all meals, lodging and related travel expenses.

Access to Mr. Harper's opinionated and unbiased reviews is exclusive to a private membership service, which also provides personalized travel planning assistance, bespoke tours and valuable travel benefits.
Follow Mr. Harper on Facebook at Facebook.com/AndrewHarperTravel, on Instagram HarperTravel and on Twitter at HarperTravel.