Holidays specialist Hays Travel has made its fourth acquisition of the year with East Midlands-based Millington Travel.
The Sunderland-based group struck an undisclosed deal for the Leicester company which was set up more than 50 years ago. Hays has now taken ownership of Millington, which spans 14 branches across the Midlands employing 77 staff, and has confirmed all jobs are safe.
The branches will continue to trade under the Millington name. Owners Nick Bland and Nigel Armitage acquired the business in 2005 and are said to have developed it into a specialist in long-haul, cruise and tailor-made holidays.
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The acquisition comes hot on the heels of Hays' purchase of Polka Dot Travel last week. Shropshire-based Polka Dot added 15 branches across the North West, Midlands and North Wales to the Hays stable.
Dame Irene Hays, chair and owner of Hays Travel, said: “I congratulate Nick and Nigel on their work to further establish Millington Travel as an exemplary business. With its reputation for family values, excellent service, and loyal customers Millington Travel is a natural fit for us. We look forward to welcoming their talented people to our Hays Travel family."
She added: “I wish Nigel and Nick every success with what comes next and give them my assurance that we will take great care of their brilliant people and business as we build on their legacy.”
Mr Armitage said: "Stepping away from a business we've poured our hearts into for nearly 20 years is emotional, but we’re confident this is the right move. Our incredible team has been the backbone of Millington Travel’s success, and we’re proud to see them transition into the capable hands of Hays Travel. We’re deeply grateful to our loyal customers and colleagues who’ve made this journey so rewarding."
Mr Bland thanked the team at Hays Travel, saying: “We have great respect for them and their business and know that our people are in good hands.”
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In the summer, Hays made what it described as its most significant acquisition since its rescue of Thomas Cook. It took over cruise specialist Victoria Travel Group and its brands cruise.co.uk and Seascanner as well as its German division Kreuzfahrtberater.de, in an undisclosed deal.
And prior to that, in June, Hays acquired Essex-based Spears Travel Group which has 12 branches, including in towns such as Skipton, Stokesley, Wolverhampton, Blanford and Northallerton, as well as a network of homeworkers. In March, Hays handed staff bonus payments having reached the landmark £3bn in total transaction value.