Travel group S8 has linked up with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group to create a United Kingdom-based chain of 300 retail travel agency stores, as it seeks to expand internationally.
The Queensland-based S8, which acquired HWT six months ago, will join up with Virgin Holidays to create the network, with the first 100 stores due to open shortly.
S8 said the UK alliance was a significant stepping stone in its global expansion plans.
“Our acquisition over the past six months of Harvey World Travel and our proposals to merge with Transonic Travel and ravelscene American Express have not only consolidated our position in the Australian market, but also delivered us strategic beachheads in the UK, North America, Asia, South East Asia and South Africa,” said S8 chairperson Jenny Hutson.
