The Online Travel Group (‘OTG’) has completed a deal to acquire the specialist travel business Get Travelling. 

Following the conclusion of the transaction, Get Travelling’s brands (Get Skiing and Get Cruising) will join OTG’s existing online brands Traveltext and Hot Holidays as part of an expanded portfolio.

OTG is the travel arm of multi-platform air cargo industry services provider HAE Group Limited (‘HAE’) and operates from HAE’s UK headquarters at East Midlands Airport.

Under the terms of the transaction, Get Travelling managing director Gary Wardrope will take a place on the OTG board as managing director of OTG and will work alongside Lance Chambers to manage the future growth of the business; both by acquisition and by executing its online strategy.

The first stage of that growth has already started, with OTG’s in-house technical team hard at work on the development of a new online presence for both Get Skiing and Get Cruising.

New websites for the two brands will launch over the course of 2017; both of which will provide retail customers with new and exciting ways in which to book a ski or cruise holiday.

“It goes without saying that I’m delighted to announce that we are to become part of the Online Travel Group,” Wardrope explained. “With the growing pace of change in the world of technology, I wanted a partner with both online technical website skills and a good balance sheet to invest and help grow our business.  OTG has both of these in abundance, which made them the perfect partner.

“By pooling our resources, we can make use of the technical skills that already exist within the Online Travel Group and can also bring in our skill set, contacts and knowledge in the travel industry to help take the business to the next level.

“This is a hugely exciting deal that will benefit those people looking to book their dream ski or cruise holiday, and we look forward to working with industry partners and customers old and new in the coming months.”

The transaction with Get Travelling is the latest stage in an on-going acquisition programme currently being implemented by the Online Travel Group, which also operates independent holiday forums and review site Holiday Truths alongside its retail interests.

“We have been carefully evaluating our options when it comes to possible acquisitions, and Gary operates just the kind of business we are looking to bring into the Group,” Chambers revealed. “He has developed a strong business in an area of the industry where we don’t currently operate and just needed some help to take his business to the next level.

“What Gary and Get Travelling needed is exactly what we can provide, and this new partnership is a win-win for all concerned. We have a lot of exciting things planned for the future of both the Get Skiing and Get Cruising brands, and will reveal more in the coming months ahead of the launch of their new online presence.”