Today Killgerm Group Ltd has announced the sale of 100% of the shareholding in TravelWise Group Ltd to TPW S.A.S. trading as Travel Planet. This encompasses both the Leisure Travel and the Business Travel operations within TravelWise Group Ltd.
Travel Planet are a family owned French company based in Lille, and in 7 years they have grown to become a c. €90m turnover operation with over 80 employees, recently expanding their business overseas. The senior management/owners of Travel Planet have several decades of experience in both the Business Travel and the Leisure Travel sectors. As a key part of their success, Travel Planet have developed a unique online travel management tool which has given them a significant advantage versus other travel companies.
As part of their international expansion Travel Planet have decided to enter the UK market, and to support this expansion TravelWise Group has been identified as the ideal fit. The new UK headquarters for Travel Planet is based in Wakefield, which is where the Business Travel operations will be centred. The Leisure Travel operations will continue to be based in Ilkley.
Commenting on the sale, Rupert Broome, Group Managing Director of Killgerm Group, said “This decision to sell TravelWise Group has been a very tough one to make, not least because TravelWise Group has been a part of Killgerm Group since 1993. That said, it is clear that ownership by Travel Planet will bring significant opportunities both for staff and for sales which is beyond the capabilities of continued ownership by Killgerm Group. As such it would be unfair on staff and the business not to take this opportunity.”
Mr Broome went on to add “This strategic realignment of the activities of Killgerm Group will now allow us to refocus 100% of our future efforts on our manufacturing and supply activities within the pest control sector across the globe through our Killgerm and PestWest businesses. We have a number of expansion opportunities which we are already exploring.”
As a final comment, Mr Broome said “I do want to pay tribute to the staff of TravelWise Group who have been truly excellent colleagues over the years. I am both sad and excited for the future, as they will be missed as part of the Killgerm Group family but at the same time I strongly believe they will thrive as part of the Travel Planet family.”
