Travel Leaders Group Reaches Agreement To Acquire Leading U.K. Travel Company, Barrhead Travel Group of Scotland

Plans Call for Barrhead To Become Part of Travel Leaders Group's Growing U.K. Operation

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Feb 01, 2018, 04:29 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Leaders Group has reached an agreement to acquire Barrhead Travel Group, one of Scotland's largest retail travel companies and one of the largest in the United Kingdom, with more than 75 locations and more than 900 employees and agents. Barrhead will become part of Travel Leaders Group's growing presence in the U.K. and around the world. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter.

"Barrhead is a great addition to our family of brands. It's an innovative, award-winning travel business that is on a trajectory for continued growth," said Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko, CTC. "From its high-touch retail travel superstores to its online presence, Barrhead offers personalized attention, technology tools, highly-trained travel specialists and a wide range of travel products and services."

Due to its leadership position in the U.K. market, Barrhead will retain its distinct brand identity within the Travel Leaders U.K. portfolio. Barrhead's Chief Executive Sharon Munro will continue to manage the business. Her father and Barrhead founder, Bill Munro, will serve in a strategic advisory role as Chairman of the Barrhead division within Travel Leaders Group. No major changes in operations are anticipated.

He continued, "Bill and Sharon Munro have devoted their careers to building this extraordinary business. We're pleased that the Munro family is entrusting the future of Barrhead, its employees, agents and customers to our organization. We're excited about this chance to expand our presence in Scotland and the U.K. overall and the opportunities this affords both companies."

Terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.

"Joining with Travel Leaders Group will give us the resources to expand into additional markets, access to new technology and the ability to innovate," said Sharon Munro. "This agreement creates exciting new prospects for both our enterprises."

"Barrhead's successful 'click, call and visit' model and its cadre of highly-trained travel professionals has positioned the company as a leading multi-channel retailer for cruises, custom vacations and business travel," said Chacko.

Once the transaction is finalized, Travel Leaders U.K. portfolio will include Barrhead, Colletts Travel, Protravel International U.K. and Tzell U.K., which are among the U.K.'s leading travel companies. Combined, these four brands, together with ALTOUR UK, specializing in entertainment and corporate travel, and its recent merger with Travel Leaders Group Holdings, will rank among the top travel management companies in the U.K.

Travel Leaders Group is one of North America's largest travel companies – encompassing nearly one-third of all travel agents on the continent. Travel Leaders Group is a leader in both consumer retail travel and global corporate travel, and 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 through our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers, Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands, including All Aboard Travel, ALTOUR, Andrew Harper Travel, Colletts Travel, CruCon, Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, SinglesCruise.com, Travel Leaders Corporate, Travel Leaders Network and Tzell Travel Group. With over 7,000 agency locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry's largest traditional travel agency companies.

About Barrhead Travel
Since it was founded in 1975, Barrhead Travel has expanded from a traditional 'bucket and spade' travel agent to a multi-faceted travel group chartering its own flights, offering bespoke holidays to all corners of the globe, running an in-house training facility, employing specialist consultants providing expert advice in areas such as long haul, cruise and ski holidays and promoting youth employment through its apprenticeship scheme.

The company has won many awards over the years, including Top U.K. Travel Agency and Best Travel Agency in Scotland for 17 years running by Travel Weekly U.K. Barrhead Travel has been recognized as one of the "Best Companies to Work For" for the last five years by the U.K.'s Sunday Times.