Clarity has announced that it has acquired Ian Allan Travel for an undisclosed amount.
Based in Shepperton and Bristol, Ian Allan Travel was founded in 1964 and has since acquired a number of travel-related companies. It now employs more than 80 staff and handles travel for clients across the corporate, education and charity sectors.
Pat McDonagh, CEO of Clarity, said: “We see this acquisition as a really exciting opportunity. Ian Allan Travel is a long-established and respected business and we see this as a complementary move for both of us. They have a real strength in the corporate, education and charity sectors and we believe that through both businesses we have the best talent, quality, innovation and solutions for our customers.”
Ian Allan Travel MD Pat O’Neill commented: “This is a great step for the future of Ian Allan Travel. We both have similar values and it is a great fit for both of us. The acquisition will help us to deliver greater strength to our proposition for both staff and clients alike.”
“The whole travel industry has seen, and continues to see, dramatic changes in every area of our business, and the family felt the time was right for our company, having traded independently for over 55 years, to find a new home within a significantly larger organisation, capable of providing additional support for the ever-increasing demands of our customer base and the aspirations of a rapidly changing business environment,” added Paul Allan, chairman of Ian Allan Travel.
Allan continued: “I want to thank all the people who have worked with and for Ian Allan Travel over the years, for their loyalty and commitment to the company – this acquisition ensures that those still involved will benefit from the additional security, size and expertise provided by Clarity.”
Founded in 2015 following the acquisition of Co-operative Travel Management, Clarity is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Portman Travel Group. The TMC employs 600 staff at its Manchester headquarters and across the UK and says it handles in excess of 1 million business trips per year for its clients.
claritybusinesstravel.com; ianallantravel.com