Travel Leaders Group Acquires Two Luxury Travel Companies

Expanding its luxury travel portfolio, Travel Leaders Group (TLG) this week has acquired the travel agency and lodging divisions of Andrew Harper LLC and U.K.-based Colletts Travel Unlimited, including its prestigious Colletts Collection.

The acquisition of the two companies is part of TLG’s concerted effort to build its position in the luxury travel market and to serve affluent travelers globally, the company said. Colletts Travel will maintain its brand going forward.

“What attracted us to Colletts is its strong brand reputation within the UK’s luxury leisure market,” said TLG CEO Ninan Chacko. “Colletts only strengthens our already formidable expertise in counseling luxury clientele both in the United Kingdom and throughout the world.”

The Andrew Harper Travel Office, a full-service travel agency, and The Andrew Harper Alliance, a hotel program that provides added amenities for members, were both launched in 1994. The Andrew Harper acquisition did not include the editorial division, which publishes the Hideaway Report, The Andrew Harper Collection and AndrewHarper.com.

Regarding the Andrew Harper acquisition, Chacko it “strengthens and solidifies Travel Leaders Group’s position.”

Steve Loucks, chief communications officer, said that Travel Leaders will continue to search for acquisitions. “Travel Leaders Group continues to explore other acquisition targets that complement our current travel agency operations. However, we will not publicly comment on any timing.”

No changes are currently expected for management at either The Andrew Harper Travel Office and The Andrew Harper Alliance, and operations will remain as they are. TLG said it “is entering a commercial agreement with Andrew Harper Editorial to support certain ongoing service functions” and to market its memberships.

The leadership of Colletts Travel –including Roy Collett and Michael Berlin, who both serve as managing directors– will report to Travel Leaders Elite Division president Gail Grimmett, who is also responsible for Protravel International and Tzell Travel Group.

Established in 1983 by Roy Collett to focus on luxury vacations in worldwide destinations, Colletts Travel has grown into one of the U.K.’s most respected luxury travel agencies, with annual sales of about $57 million. Colletts is headquartered in the London suburb of Hendon, and employs 48 staff across its three London-area offices, as well as in Lancashire. Colletts will continue to be a Virtuoso member, Loucks said.

“Together with our Protravel and Tzell UK operations, the addition of Colletts Travel further fortifies our platform in the United Kingdom as we expand our leadership position in serving the extraordinary and sophisticated needs of ultra-high net worth leisure travelers,” Grimmett said.

No specific terms of the acquisitions were released.