Entire Travel, CIT merge

Entire Travel, CIT merge

WHOLESALE brands Entire Travel Group & CIT Holidays today revealed they will merge at the end of the financial year, creating a travel powerhouse specialising in Europe, North America and the Pacific (TD breaking news).

Italian travel specialist CIT Holidays, established in 1971, was acquired by Adventure World founder Peter Newsom and Alpin Group three years ago.

Since then, CIT has bolstered its focus to include Switzerland, while last year it acquired Canada & Alaska Specialist Holidays.

Headed by md Brad McDonnell, Entire Travel Group’s existing stable of brands consists of French Travel Connection, Tahiti Travel Connection, Spain & Portugal Travel Connection, New Caledonia Travel Connection and Barge Travel Connection.

McDonnell will assume the newly-created ceo role, overseeing a team of more than 60 staff, while Newsom will continue to take an active role as a member of Entire Travel Group’s board.

CIT will be rolled into Entire’s portfolio, while its Sydney city-based operation will relocate to the headquarters of Entire Travel Group in North Sydney.

McDonnell said the combined entity would deliver “significant benefits” to Australian agents and open the door for an enhanced depth of product across Western Europe through the expansion of Entire’s product teams in Italy, France and Spain.

Last month McDonnell hinted expansion may be on the cards for Entire Travel Group, saying “watch this space” (TD 08 Mar).

Source: traveldaily