UK based rail tour operator Railbookers has been sold to US rail specialist Yankee Leisure Group for an undisclosed sum.
The deal includes Railbookers’ short breaks brand Travel Definitions, which recently ceased trading.
As part of the deal, former Cosmos product and sales director Peter Traynor has been appointed as Railbookers’ new managing director.
Yankee Leisure Group said it has been partnering with Railbookers for its US tours since 2008.
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"An existing relationship between staff in the UK and US, as well as a commercial partnership with significant history, made the acquisition a natural fit for the Yankee portfolio," it said.
YLG, which has been trading for 44 years, is also the national tour operator for Amtrak Vacations.
The operator said it wanted to ‘take Railbookers to the next level and aim for similar successes achieved in the US market’.
The acquisition has seen the hand-over of all existing business to YLG.
A statement from YLG’s president Frank Marini claimed there will be no impact for the company’s customers.
"Our US based corporation has been built on the same ethos and foundation that Railbookers in the UK operates by – fantastic service, unrivalled flexibility and an exceptional customer experience.
"During this short period of hand-over, customers travelling with Railbookers are our priority, and we’re working with the team to ensure the transition is seamless.
"Moving forward, we’re excited to build upon the great work done by Railbookers over the last 13 years, and look forward to taking the brand to the next level."
