Acquisition for travel management firm as it anticipates lockdown easing
A Leeds-based travel management company has made an acquisition and internal investments as part of its 2021 growth strategy.
Traveleads, part of the Global Travel Solutions Group (GTSG) which is the portfolio owner of travel companies across business, sport, group and leisure travel, has acquired Omega Business Travel in a move to strengthen its position in the industry.
The acquisition sees Traveleads incorporating Omega Business Travel’s corporate services and almost 40 years of business, along with two senior team members, into its plans to bolster the return of business travel this year.
Paul Millington, group managing director of GTSG, said: “We’re thrilled about our acquisition of Omega Business Travel and incorporating it into our business as we begin to return to normality.
“Omega aligns with our own priorities of providing bespoke travel solutions and essentially making lives easier for our customers.
“The pandemic has tested the travel industry but with positive updates on the vaccine rollout and the Prime Minister’s roadmap announcement last month, we’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.”
The acquisition forms part of Traveleads’ growth strategy for the year, which has also seen the company invest internally to allow colleagues to work more seamlessly and consolidate its offering for the future.
Millington added: “Prior to the virus taking hold in March 2020, we had been preparing for the most exciting phase Traveleads had seen in its 40-year history.
“Having gone through a 12-month transformation project, we were poised to unveil a new era for the business before lockdown suddenly halted our plans.
“With real signs of recovery growing, we’re delighted that we have now been able to refocus on implementing this transformation.”
The travel company’s technical team has developed and implemented new back office systems to streamline processes and help improve the efficiency of its travel booking systems.
Maggie Monteith
Maggie Monteith, UK client services director at Traveleads, said: “We’re focused on creating an exceptional customer experience so we’re prioritising the development of superior technology and impeccable customer insight to add value for our travel partners. There’s lots to come this year and we’re incredibly excited.”
The acquisition of Omega Business Travel follows GTSG’s acquisition of Sterling Travel Management which merged with Traveleads in June 2020.
Millington said: “It’s been an exceptional year of change but I’m delighted by the response and attitude of our team and their resilience despite the extraordinary challenges.
“As a result, we’ve retained all of our customers and continue to receive wonderful feedback about the team’s response times, dedication and ability to adapt to the continually changing travel rules.
“We’re looking forward to easing out of lockdown as we have a big year ahead.”
