The company’s latest merger follows its takeover last year of Hillgate Travel and its more recent acquisition of Concierge Travel Group in Australia, and takes its combined turnover to more than £750million.
Both Business Travel Direct and Reed & Mackay have reported growth in the last two years and work primarily with customers across the law, insurance and financial sectors.
“Our focus has always been on strategic growth, built both organically and through acquisition where there is a natural and strong alignment in our core values,” says Reed & Mackay’s Group CEO, Fred Stratford.
“I have great admiration for Peter Reglar, Julie Oliver and the wider management team [at Business Travel Direct], and am delighted to be joining forces.”
Business Travel Direct will continue to operate as a division of Reed & Mackay. It will retain its staff and offices in five different UK locations, with Peter Reglar remaining CEO and Julie Oliver staying on as Managing Director.
“Our clients can look forward to receiving the same great service, delivered by the same award-winning teams in the same locations, but now with the backing of a truly global TMC,” says Business Travel Direct’s CEO, Peter Reglar.
Julie Oliver adds: “It’s a very natural fit for us. We share a focus on exemplary customer service and continual innovation as well as a long-standing heritage of excellence in travel and an entrepreneurial spirit.”
Aside from its recent acquisitions, Reed & Mackay has formed a strategic alliance in the Netherlands and opened a new office in New York, bringing its global coverage to 4,000 travel experts across 40 countries.
