Flight Centre Travel Group set to Acquire Quebec Travel Company Les Voyages Laurier Du Vallon

Flight Centre Canada (CNW Group/Flight Centre Canada)

TORONTO, Aug. 2, 2017 /CNW/ - Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) has strengthened its North America presence by agreeing to acquire leading Quebec City-based travel company Les Voyages Laurier du Vallon (LDV).

The acquisition will significantly strengthen FLT's presence in Quebec, which is Canada's second largest province and a market where FLT was previously under-represented, partly as a result of challenges posed by complying with local guidelines relating to use of the French language.

FLT managing director Graham Turner said the acquisition would fast-track the company's growth in another key global location. "Quebec is a large and attractive market for FLT, but our ability to expand and grow market-share in this province has, until now, been constrained," he said. "By working with LDV, we will be able to leverage the business's local expertise, experience and linguistic capabilities to grow our presence in Canada's second largest market, which is a major corporate hub and home to a large and active leisure travel population.

"There are also opportunities to capitalise on other synergies and to help grow LDV by drawing on FLT's:

• Corporate product suite
• Proven marketing expertise
• Global supplier relationships; and
• Rapidly expanding range of unique airfares, packages and in-destination offerings, which can be distributed through the LDV network."

Flight Centre's President in Canada John Beauvais added that the acquisition is an integral part of the Canadian growth strategy. "We are thrilled to be working with LDV, an established company in a market where we see enormous potential."

About LDV

LDV was established in 1963 and has become one of the largest independent travel agencies in Quebec province. The privately owned business, which has six locations across Quebec City and one location in Montreal, currently employs about 100 people across its three core business units which include:

• A five-shop luxury leisure travel business that draws on the expertise of a highly experienced consultant network. The leisure business, which is similar to FLT's Travel Associates offering in Australia, generates about half of LDV's TTV
• A strong corporate business that operates out of Quebec City and Montreal and generates about 40% of group TTV; and
• An emerging MICE business

The businesses will continue to trade as LDV, to capitalise on the brand's strong presence in Quebec. Current LDV general manager Nicolas Racine will continue to run the business and will become part of FLT's senior leadership group in Canada. He will report to FLT's president in Canada, John Beauvais.

FLT's broader Americas division, which is now the company's second largest business by sales (behind Australia), is headed by Dean Smith and includes:

• Flight Centre USA
• The FLT Canada business, which will now have a strong presence across eight provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Quebec); and
• A small corporate travel operation in Mexico, which FLT acquired early in FY16

In addition, the company recently secured a 24.1% interest in Bibam, an Argentina-based travel and technology group with a strong presence in the on and offline leisure, corporate and wholesale sectors. Bibam (Biblos América), Argentina's second largest travel group, owns and operates the Biblos brand and fast growing e-commerce player Avantrip.com.

SOURCE Flight Centre Canada

Media Inquiries: Allison Wallace, SVP, Communication & Engagement, [email protected], [phone]

Related Links

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