Turismo
Tour Partner Group sees Significant Opportunity in Nordic Markets Through Acquisition of Trans Nordic Tours
Trans Nordic Tours, launched in 1995, is based in Denmark and successfully led by founders Yvonne and Pierre d'Hermilly. It provides in-market services for consumers travelling to popular destinations throughout Scandinavia, Iceland , Greenland , Finland , the Baltics and Russia . Since inception, it has grown to 41 staff, speaking 17 different languages, and services a fast growing and geographically diverse client base.
The acquisition marks the first strategic initiative under recently appointed Tour Partner Group CEO Paul Maine , and the Group's entrance into the Nordic market. Trans Nordic Tours will also add new source markets to Tour Partner Group's portfolio, capturing increasing demand from Asia , Australia , the Middle East and South America .
The number of international tourist arrivals has more than doubled in the past 20 years, with an estimated 1.8 billion annual trips by 2030. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Europe was the most frequently visited region in the world in 2016, accounting for close to half (49.8 %) of the 1.24 billion international tourist arrivals. Northern Europe experienced the greatest growth (6%) across Europe during the last year. This increase in tourist arrivals highlights the Nordic region as one of the world's fastest growing inbound tourist destinations.
This new acquisition follows the recent transaction with Irish Welcome Tours, one of Ireland's leading inbound tour operators, and Authentic Ireland, a high growth online US travel agent, which strengthened Tour Partner Group's market leading position in the UK & Ireland .
This activity represents the next phase in Tour Partner Group's growth, building on its success since Mayfair Equity Partners' backed the buyout of Hotels & More in 2015. Tour Partner Group now consists of over 150 destination experts, providing services across 14 North European countries to clients from more than 50 countries; including operating groups, foreign independent tour providers and the meeting and event industry. Tour Partner Group will continue to evaluate acquisition targets that complement the Group's underlying organic growth, provide access to new geographies, and reinforce its leadership position in existing markets.
Paul Maine , CEO of Tour Partner Group said:
Pierre d'Hermilly, COO of Trans Nordic Tours commented:
Yvonne d'Hermilly, CEO of Trans Nordic Tours added:
Tour Partner Group is the holding company for Hotels & More, Irish Welcome Tours and Authentic Vacations. Hotels & More is a professional B2B partner for group tours and foreign independent tours to the
United Kingdom and
Ireland . Since its foundation in 1996 in Harrow, it has established itself as one of the leading inbound tour operators. In 2015 Hotels & More was backed by Mayfair Equity Partners', a UK based buyout and growth capital investor.
Irish Welcome Tours is one of Ireland's leading Inbound Tour Operators and Destination Management Companies. It has been based in Dublin for over 27 years and boasts a team of 65 multilingual staff.
Authentic Vacations is based in California with 20 staff offering self-drive and chauffeur drive tours to Ireland and the UK from the B2C market in North America .
Trans Nordic Tours, based in Copenhagen and established in 1995 by Yvonne and Pierre d'Hermilly, is one of the region's largest inbound tour operators with 41 staff, speaking 17 different languages. It services a fast growing and geographically diverse client base, working side by side with hotels, restaurants, bus companies, tour leaders and guides, meeting venues and more.
Charlie Harrison &
Ed Brown
Smithfield : +44-20-3047-4228 / +44-20-3047-2268