Adventure Travel Company, World Expeditions, acquires UK-based Sherpa Expeditions

23 February 2012
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Leading adventure travel company, World Expeditions, has acquired European hiking and cycling specialist and operator Sherpa Expeditions.

Sherpa Expeditions’ products will complement World Expeditions’ European division, UTracks, which caters to travellers interested in active holidays in Europe and the UK. Together, the two brands will offer a selection of more than 300 itineraries covering more than 25 countries, from Iceland to Malta and from Ireland to Cyprus.

For the time being, Sherpa Expeditions and UTracks will continue operating as two separate companies. World Expeditions plans to consolidate the UTracks and Sherpa brands by the end of 2012; which will almost double its European portfolio.

Sherpa Expeditions are the operators of most of the trips included in their portfolio; providing an ideal platform for vertical integration of the combined Sherpa/UTracks business moving forward. Furthermore, Sherpa Expeditions has developed the most comprehensive route maps and instructionbooklets for its self-guided cyclists and walkers – A result of over two decades of on-the-ground research and intelligence. According to World Expeditions CEO, Sue Badyari, this makes the acquisition very attractive toWorld Expeditions’ expanding product base.

“Walking and cycling holidays in Europe are one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry,” she said. “The dollar is making European travel very appealing to North Americans and self guided style of travel is increasing at proportions that outpace any other segment. There is also a huge demand for travellers to walk and cycle in the UK and with over 20 trips in Britain in the Sherpa Expeditions line up we are now able to offer an exciting range in that region specifically”

“The acquisition allows us to cement our position as one of the leading suppliers of European active holidays where the trips are generallyoperated by us ensuring total quality control and a focus on providing exceptional experiences for our travellers”.

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