British corporate and event travel company Reed & Mackay has acquired Concierge Travel Group, headquartered in Sydney and employing 45 specialists in personalised travel arrangements, often with complex requirements.
Concierge managing director David Greenland and general manager Jamie Strickland will continue to lead the business from its Sydney headquarters. In time, the Reed & Mackay brand is likely to be rolled out to replace Concierge Business Travel, particularly as Reed & Mackay’s proprietary technology becomes available to Concierge’s corporate clients.
The sale includes the following brands:
- Concierge Business Travel
- Concierge Traveller
- Alquemie
- Elegant Resorts & Villas
- Freighter Expeditions
Founded in 1979 and acquired by renowned industry veterans Don Ferguson and Michael Keating in 2001, the business has grown steadily year over year.
Since 2012, Concierge has been official travel service provider to the Australian Olympic Team. It will again manage the travel requirements for the team destined for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
Concierge has succeeded in delivering high-touch travel services to complete the often complex arrangements required by corporate and leisure travellers.
In an issued statement, Concierge chairman Michael Keating said the business had “grown to a point whereby we had to make a decision how to take it to the next level.
“We felt the answer was to more deeply connect into international markets, so the opportunity with Reed & Mackay presented a perfect opportunity”.
This latest acquisition by Reed & Mackay extends the company’s reach in the Asia Pacific region, following its launch in Singapore in May 2018. Reed & Mackay has notched up strong growth in recent years.
Fred Stratford, Reed & Mackay’s group chief executive said: “Australia is an important strategic market for our business with many clients operating in the APAC region. Concierge Travel Group are known for delivering service of the highest quality and I look forward to working closely with the team there to deliver a unique proposition to the market”.
Concierge managing director David Greenland said: “It was evident from the start we shared the same commitment to outstanding service, and given that we quickly identified a culture and capability in common. We’re delighted about the extended global reach and benefits Reed & Mackay’s leading technology will bring to our clients. Reed & Mackay’s online and mobile booking tools are second-to-none and something the Australian market is very ready for – it’s exciting for all involved.”
Stratford continued “We’re on a very exciting journey that not only delivers on client need, but also creates fantastic opportunity for our people across the globe. I’m thrilled to welcome Concierge Travel Group into the Reed & Mackay family and look forward to working closely together to deliver extended reach, extraordinary service and leading technology to our growing client base.”
Keating conceded that for Don Ferguson and himself, “the sale to Reed & Mackay after 18 years marks the end of an era – but we see it as the best opportunity for the company to continue to flourish for the benefit of its clients and the team of people there who really make things happen. We fully believe it is well set for further success and we wish them well.”
Concierge Travel Group was represented by Hillside Capital and Kardos Scanlan as financial and legal advisors on the transaction.
Edited by Peter Needham
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