Travel Counsellors, a network of home-based travel advisors headquartered in Manchester, has strategically acquired Planisto, a travel technology platform, and its development team. This acquisition, the second under Vitruvian Partners’ ownership, aligns with Travel Counsellors’ growth and strategic progress.
While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the Planisto platform, developed by Belgian B2B travel technology company EURAM, will be integrated into Travel Counsellors’ technology development. This integration will empower the Travel Counsellors team to construct sophisticated travel itineraries and present them intuitively to consumers.
Steve Byrne, Chief Executive of Travel Counsellors, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, affirming that the Planisto development team aligns with the company’s values and culture. He emphasized the alignment of the acquisition with their commitment to unrivalled customer care and strategic focus on technological development to drive growth in the premium-leisure segment of the market.
In addition to enhancing their proprietary tech stack and talent, the acquisition will accelerate the development roadmap for Phenix, Travel Counsellors’ end-to-end proprietary technology platform. Byrne also stressed that the deal will strengthen their position in the Benelux region, where the Planisto platform is highly regarded among the professional travel community.
Looking towards the future, Byrne outlined the company’s growth strategy, aiming to reach a transaction value of over £1 billion in the near future. Notably, Travel Counsellors plans to invest further in its scalable technology and operating model to achieve this ambitious goal.
The acquisition of Planisto marks Travel Counsellors’ second acquisition under the ownership of Vitruvian Partners, following the successful acquisition of Birmingham-based Holidaysplease in March 2023. Furthermore, the deal reflects the company’s record financial performance during the financial year ended 31 October 2023, with annual bookings amounting to £933 million, a 23% increase from the prior year.
Looking ahead, Steve Byrne will be sharing insights into his strategic decisions as he delivers a keynote address at the first Rainmakers conference on 20 March 2024. This event is scheduled to take place at The Point conferencing center at Emirates Old Trafford, providing a platform for industry leaders and professionals to gain valuable knowledge and inspiration.
The acquisition not only encompasses the Planisto platform and associated intellectual property but also welcomes the creators behind the platform into the Travel Counsellors team. This move highlights Travel Counsellors’ commitment to leveraging strategic acquisitions and technological advancements to fuel its growth in the competitive travel industry.
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