Hays Travel enters online cruise market with ‘most significant acquisition since Thomas Cook’
Hays Travel has expanded into the online cruise market with the acquisition of Victoria Travel Group Limited, the parent company of cruise.co.uk and Seascanner
The purchase, for an undisclosed fee, is the agency’s seventh major takeover, and most significant, since it acquired Thomas Cook in 2019.
As part of the move, Chris Gardner, Victoria Travel Group chief executive, will continue to lead the business, alongside Carl Tromans, group chief financial officer, Tony Andrews, UK managing director, and Tom Reiter, managing director of Victoria Travel Group’s German division, Kreuzfahrtberater.de.
Victoria Travel Group reported a total transaction value of £252 million in its most recent financial year.
Dame Irene Hays, owner and chair of Hays Travel, 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.”
She continued: “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.”
Gardner added: “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.”
Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, chief operating officer of Hays Travel, and Jo Rzymowska, non-executive director of Hays Travel, will join the Victoria Travel Group board as non-executive directors.
Last year, Hays Travel purchased a stake in My Kind of a Cruise, a cruise booking app spearheaded by CEO Sefton Monk.
