In a move making it the largest distributor of cruises in the world, World Travel Holdings, a New York-based travel company with multiple divisions, has acquired National Leisure Group (NLG). NLG distributes cruises and vacation packages via its own brands—CruisesOnly, Vacation Outlet, Cruises.com, CruiseOne, and Cruises, Inc.—as well as private label partnerships. World Travel Holdings, under the direction of co-chairmen Bradley Tolkin and Jeffrey Tolkin will operate NLG and its subsidiaries as a subsidiary of World Travel Holdings. The Tolkins are veteran operators, having been part of the family that launched Travel Impressions in 1974, and acquired and grew the Empress Travel Agency network in the 1990s. The Tolkins sold Travel Impressions and Empress Travel to American Express in 1998. NLG and its subsidiary brands are a perfect complement to World Travel's existing portfolio of companies, said Jeff Tolkin, who added that travel agents, customers, cruise suppliers and industry partners will benefit immensely from the addition of NLG. Brad Tolkin said World Travel Holdings intends to grow the NLG business and work with cruise suppliers to maximize the opportunities for both travel agents and industry partners. NLG was founded in 1986, while World Travel Holdings was founded in 2005 when the Tolkins acquired Creative Leisure International and Villas of Distinction, two high-end operators specializing in resort and villa vacations. World Travel Holdings is headquartered in Melville, NY with offices in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Brazil.
