Mike Batt leads Carlson Leisure buy-out

Carlson Leisure Group and its range of leisure travel-related businesses is to be acquired by its management team led by president and CEO Mike Batt.
 
The transaction, part of Carlson’s focus strategy to build its global brands, involves Carlson Leisure Group (CLG) only.

Carlson will retain its majority ownership stake in Carlson Wagonlit Travel and will continue to “aggressively expand” the travel management company globally with its partner, One Equity Partners.
 
Terms of the purchase agreement for the new venture will not be disclosed, Carslon said.

The new management company is now operating as Travel Acquisitions Group (TAG), and will continue to operate its current brands, including the CWT brand for a period of time, for the approximately 500 US-based CWT franchisees, as well as with its wholly-owned retail travel agency locations, the company said.
 
TAG is purchasing all the travel assets and companies currently held within CLG. The business employs more than 1,000 people directly with company-owned travel sales approaching $1 billion. Travel sales made within the various franchise groups involved are in excess of $5 billion.

Combined cruise sales for the group are more than $500 million.

Other franchised travel agency brands included under TAG’s umbrella are: Cruise Holidays, Results! Travel and SeaMaster Cruises. Other TAG brands include: All Aboard Travel, Carlson Destination Marketing Services, Connexion Loyalty Travel Services, CruiseDeals.com, Cruise Specialists, Fly4Less.com, Luxury Travel Network, Partners In Travel and SinglesCruise.com.

Carlson chairman and CEO Marilyn Carlson Nelson said: “This is a win/win transaction. It allows Carlson to accelerate the growth of its global travel, hotel and restaurant brands, and it enables a proven management team, known and trusted by our franchisees, to seek new opportunities in the leisure space.”

Batt, chairman and CEO of Travel Acquisitions Group, said: “We’ve built an outstanding business together in the past 11 years, and I’m confident we can continue to grow our business in the new environment.

“Growth remains a critical part of our strategy, and we intend to continue our path to become one of North America’s leading travel companies.”

Under Carlson, CLG grew from 960 locations in 1996 to more than 1,700 today. In addition, CLG company-owned operations had grown to sales approaching $1 billion, placing CLG in the top 15 of all US-based travel agency companies.

“Carlson is confident that Mike and his team will take forward the culture that all of us developed together,” Nelson said.
 
Looking forward, Batt said: “Emerging from a rich Carlson heritage, built upon strong values and integrity, we will continue that philosophy and also continue to look after our people. We will proudly carry on what we’ve learned at Carlson to continue making ours a great place for great people to do great work.”

by Phil Davies

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