Third sector specialist Key Travel has bought Edinburgh-based travel management company (TMC) Ben Lawries Travel.
The move will give Key Travel a strong foothold in Scotland, and its first Scottish offices.
Steve Summers, Key Travel’s CEO said: “This is a very exciting new venture for us.
“We know there is a large and vibrant non-profit sector in Scotland and huge demand for our unique mix of specialist fares and high service levels.”
Ben Lawries Travel will be rebranded as Key Travel and all Ben Lawries’ staff will be kept on.
Summers said: “The Ben Lawries team extends both our reach and our capability and we look forward to them joining the enlarged Key Travel family.”
Key Travel staff in the area who were previously home workers will move into the Ben Lawries offices.
Founded some 25 years ago, Ben Lawries Travel will bring a number of charitable, faith and academic sector clients, growing Key Travel’s existing Scottish portfolio.
“Key Travel has an established client base in Scotland and is experiencing increased demand from University, faith and charity clients in Scotland and the north east of England,” said Summers.
“Scottish Universities in particular are increasingly looking to adopt framework agreements, for which Key Travel is the primary supplier.”
As Ben Lawries has a number of important non-profit clients, including in the University sector, the acquisition provides a “natural fit” Key Travel’s growth plans, added Summers.
Key Travel has existing offices in London, Manchester, Brussels and Washington DC and continues on the acquisition trail both in the UK and abroad.
www.keytravel.com