A Humber travel specialist has merged with a South East firm to create a new £85m turnover travel group.
Good Travel Management (GTM) and CT Travel Group (CTTG) have joined forces in a strategic move backed by the majority investor in both businesses, the Hull based John Good Group, to accelerate the firms’ growth plans in the business travel, incentive, groups and events, trade missions and leisure travel markets.
The combined travel group has established physical office locations in London, Kent and Yorkshire. GTM, based in Hessle, Hull, and already a John Good Group business, acquired Wexas’ corporate travel business in 2023 and has set out to be the partner of choice for business travellers.
Meanwhile the Tunbridge Wells based CTTG brands – CT Business Travel, CT Groups Conferences & Incentives, CT Trade Missions and Pettitts Travel – have ambitious plans to continue growth in both the corporate and leisure travel markets.
Mark Kempster, founder of CT Travel Group, said: “I am delighted that we are joining with Good Travel Management. We see a great opportunity to grow our combined position in the market and share values around our people. GTM has a long-standing reputation within the industry. It has been operating in travel since the late 1800s and is known for its client-focused service.
“It has been an amazing journey since I founded CTTG in 1988, to the proud position we find ourselves in today. That journey has been enhanced by the support of my business partners Tom Kempster, Clare Collins and David Bevan all of whom have played a key role in the success of CTTG. I’m pleased to say that Tom and Clare will be joining me as shareholders, alongside the John Good Group, in this new combined travel business.
“Over the last 37 years, I have had many experiences and made many friends within the industry, and I am now excited to continue that journey with the team at Good Travel Management and the John Good Group. We will be stronger together.”
Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, said the deal aims to set a new standard for travel businesses by uniting two respected names in the industry, promising “a future of innovation, sustainability, and exceptional service in the travel sector”.
He added: “I’m delighted to have completed this deal to bring these two brilliant organisations together within the John Good Group. We are so well aligned in terms of growth ambition and outlook. It’s in both businesses’ DNA to deliver the best possible service to travellers.
“Mark, Tom, Clare, Dave and the rest of the CTTG team have been on an impressive journey over the last 37 years in building the group of businesses we see today, and they should be congratulated for their successes. It’s a real credit to their dedication, entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude, and these characteristics resonate strongly with us.
“Our business has been in the travel industry for more than a century, and this is another historic moment in its development. We want to be the travel company of choice for businesses and consumers.
“We’re very focused on growing domestically and abroad and are committed to delivering an experience for clients where they feel the quality of our service. We’re not stopping here.”
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber