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Carlson makes two significant acquisitions
The Carlson Wagonlit Travel Vacation & Business Travel Division of Carlson Leisure Group (VBT) acquired US cruise package wholesaler All Aboard Travel and SinglesCruise.com.
Singles Cruise.com is the largest singles cruise operator in the US, while All Aboard Travel had gross sales of nearly $30 million last year.
“For years, it has been the vision of Carlson Leisure Group to not only become one of North America’s leading cruise retailers, but also to provide further vertical integration that can benefit our customers,” said Tom Baumann, executive vp of VBT.
All Aboard Travel creates and distributes group cruise packages that typically include mid-tier cruises bundled with air, hotel and/or land tours.
SinglesCruise Inc. focuses on providing large group cruises for the rapidly growing singles market. The company has grown more than 25% in the past two years.
“What made Carlson so interested in acquiring SinglesCruise.com was the fact that the company has developed a successful method of expertly managing large, like-minded groups of single men and women and turning them into repeat customers,” said Mr Baumann.
SInglesCruise.com bookings come largely through word-of-mouth. But VBT plans to increase business through its company-owned product as well as through its franchised locations.
“In today’s marketplace, every travel agency must seek out new opportunities in which to grow. VBS is no different,” said Mr Baumann.
He said the singles cruise market is a significant untapped area for cruise selling.
All Aboard Travel, he said, “will complement our preferred supplier offerings, which will be utilized in the bundled packages alongside trip components not typically part of a cruise sale.”
Report by David Wilkening
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