A Northumberland holiday company has been snapped up by growing rental group Sykes Holiday Cottages.
The Cheshire company, which announced ambitious expansion plans earlier this month, has added more than 500 properties to its portfolio, following the acquisition of Alnmouth-based Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages.
The undisclosed deal means Sykes now offers 20,500 holiday cottages across the 海角视频, Ireland and New Zealand.
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Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages, launched 30 years ago, will run as a sister accommodation booking agency to Sykes.
The business was set up by Nikki Brierley in 1981 with a single member of staff, and has grown to employ 17 staff across the region, managing 500 cottages across Northumberland and the Scottish borders. It will continue to operate as normal through its North East team, from its offices in Alnmouth and Seahouses.
Ms Brierley said: “We’ve built a great business over the last four decades, but this deal now represents a new chapter for the company and will ensure its ongoing success for the next 40 years.
“We will continue to provide the same excellent service to our customers and owners from our local offices but with the backing of Sykes’ award winning digital marketing expertise and multi million pound marketing spend – in fact “the best of both worlds”.
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“Sykes’ values mirror our own, and its track record speaks for itself, so I know our holiday home owners are in good hands.”
The deal follow Sykes’ purchase of other regional counterparts, including Best of Suffolk earlier this year, Abersoch Quality Homes and Pure Cottages Group.
Chief executive Graham Donoghue said: “Although we’re a national agency, we really strive to deliver a local service and partnering with businesses like Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages allows us to do just that.
“The team on the ground have a wealth of experience in the region and we’re looking forward to working with them to promote the holidays available in this beautiful part of the country.
“The deal will help ensure the long-term success of the business and each and every holiday home on its books in the years to come.”
Last month, Sykes Holiday Cottages’ chief executive Mr Donoghue confirmed plans to acquire more businesses alongside his strategy to grow the group organically.
The Chester-headquartered group, which is marking its 30th year in business in 2021, has 1,000 employees and operates 21,500 properties - 19,500 of which are in the 海角视频.
A surge in demand for staycations has triggered the firm’s plans to create up to 200 jobs by the end of 2022.