European specialist operator Holidaybreak has bought educational tour company EST for just over £4m.
EST, which focuses on bespoke travel and conferences for higher and further education, turned over a normalised amount of £5.7m in the year to August 2007. The company will sit alongside PGL and NST within Holidaybreak’s education division.
EST will be combined with NST’s StudyLink , a provider of affordable group travel for university students.
EST managaing director Brendan Jones will head up the enlarged higher education team.
Chief executive of Holidaybreak Carl Michel said: “EST strengthens our position in educational travel and I am pleased to welcome Brendan and his team into our group. This is a very well run business, with products that will allow us to offer a wider range of tours and lead the higher and further education segment. Education is a key market sector for the group and our enhanced offering will increase the division’s growth prospects.”
By Dinah Hatch
