Holiday homes group expects sunny days ahead after double acquisition

A Chester-based holiday cottage rental group has added 450 new properties to its portfolio with the takeover of two rivals.

Sykes Holiday Cottages agreed deals to acquire LHH Scotland and Dorset-based Lyme Bay Holidays, for an undisclosed sum.

Both businesses will continue to operate as sister agencies, but their properties across Scotland, Dorset and Devon will be available to book through Sykes.

Following the deal, Sykes, which was founded 30 years ago, now offers more than 22,000 holiday cottages across the UK, Ireland and New Zealand – that compares with just 5,000 properties five years ago.

Balblair-based LHH Scotland manages more than 125 holiday homes, with around half of these in the Outer Hebrides.

Lyme Bay Holidays was founded more than 40 years ago and has been run by the Matthews family for in excess of 20 years.

The latest deal follows Sykes’ purchase of Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages and Best of Suffolk last year.

Sykes chief executive, Graham Donoghue, said: “It’s great to bolster our portfolio of holiday homes in Scotland, Dorset and Devon ahead of what’s shaping up to be our busiest summer on record.

“By utilising our market leading technology and making these holiday homes available to Sykes’ huge customer base, we’ll help LHH and Lyme Bay’s property owners reap the rewards of growing demand for staycations.”

He added: “With the support of our regional sister companies, we’re now trusted by the owners of 22,000 holiday homes throughout the UK and Ireland and two million travellers each year.”