Travel Leaders Group Buys Scottish Retail Chain in Ongoing Merger Spree

Travel Leaders Group is buying Barrhead Travel Group, a travel agency chain predominantly based in Scotland, for an undisclosed amount.

Barrhead Travel has more than 75 stores and employs around 900 people.

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.

“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.”

Travel Leaders Group’s purchase of Barrhead Travel is the latest in a series of deals involving the acquirer. Last year, Travel Leaders merged with Altour to create a combined entity with $24 billion in annual sales.

In 2017, Travel Leaders, the largest travel agency consortium in North America, also bought London-based Colletts Travel.

According to its most recent set of accounts, in 2016 Barrhead Travel generated group revenue of $177.3 million (£124.5 million) with a pre-tax profit of $4 million (£2.8 million).

Barrhead’s Chief Executive Sharon Munro will continue to manage the business.