Specialist tour operators Expertise Journey Group and Vacation Architects (A&D Holidays Ltd t/a Vacation Architects) have introduced a merger, coming collectively below the possession of a brand new umbrella firm whereas retaining their distinct manufacturers and premises in London and Cheltenham.

‘Inquisitive Traveller’ has been launched by Expertise Journey Group and Vacation Architects to leverage the strengths of every model, harness their mixed experience and share greatest apply and sources. Inquisitive Traveller will see the tour operators collaborate on areas of mutual significance together with sustainability and mix in-house sources from know-how platforms to coaching and recruitment.

Whereas not buyer dealing with, Inquisitive Traveller may have a concentrate on the 50-plus, medium-to-long haul tailored market. Over time, Inquisitive Traveller will search funding alternatives to construct a gaggle of main manufacturers that ship immersive experiences for the inquisitive traveller market, whereas guaranteeing an enduring constructive influence on native communities.

Expertise Journey Group Managing Director (MD) Sam Clark stated: “We’re actually excited to announce this alliance, harnessing our mutual strengths to spice up our supply and influence, benefitting our purchasers and our workers. Sharing sources and experience may also construct our resilience and talent to climate future challenges and assist us to draw new expertise and funding.

“We’re notably excited in regards to the alternatives to come back collectively and collaborate on areas of significance to our respective companies, together with sustainability, and to develop our mixed buyer supply to the fast-growing 50-plus tailored market that we each presently serve.”

Vacation Architects Managing Director Andrew Hunt stated: “I’ve admired ETG for numerous years now, and at all times felt we had complementary strengths, so I’m delighted to be becoming a member of forces with them. The possibility to construct a platform to talk to a variety of audiences in our goal markets, while additionally shaping the journey restoration for a extra constructive influence could be very thrilling. It is a partnership solid below the stress of the pandemic, and I’m notably happy that one thing so constructive has come out of probably the most testing time period for the journey business.”

Expertise Journey Group Supervisor Director Sam Clark and Vacation Architects Supervisor Director Andrew Hunt will proceed of their respective positions whereas additionally sitting on the Inquisitive Traveller board chaired by Chad Lion-Cachet. There aren’t any different exterior events concerned.

The merger sees Inquisitive Traveller make use of a mixed workers of 40, working throughout greater than 30 nations. It’s forecasting departures with a price of £16 million by the tip of 2023. Waiting for the subsequent three to 5 years, Inquisitive Traveller is concentrating on development by the acquisition of latest manufacturers and natural growth.

Inquisitive Traveller already has partial B-Corp certification with the purpose that each one future manufacturers within the group might be B-Corp Licensed. Expertise Journey Group has AITO membership with Vacation Architects making use of to hitch as quickly as potential. Each firms will retain their current ATOL licences.