Travel Leaders Group reports it has reached an agreement to sell its Connexions Loyalty Travel Solutions division to Affinion Group, Inc. Connexions has become a provider of both online and offline travel for loyalty-based customers. The sale is targeted to close during the summer of 2010. Connexions’ management team and employees will continue to work within Affinion’s combined company.
Travel Leaders Group leaders indicated that the sale will help increase its focus and presence in the traditional travel agency business— including both wholly-owned and franchised locations throughout North America— while at the same time allowing its successful loyalty business (Connexions) to transfer ownership and become part of a leading company in loyalty management.
“Connexions has been an extremely valuable part of Travel Leaders Group, thanks to the extraordinary leadership of Eric Burdon and the work of the entire Connexions team,” noted Travel Leaders Group chairman and founder Michael Batt. “It’s clear that the future of that business will be significantly enhanced through Affinion ownership and their ability to offer Connexions products to potentially millions of new loyalty-based customers.”
“The heart and soul of our business has always lied in travel distribution and the travel agency business,” explained Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben. “Thus, this is also a win for Travel Leaders Group. Realigning in this way allows us to focus even more on our core business. The proceeds from the sale simply increase the resources we have available for growth and further expansion.”
After the sale has closed, Travel Leaders Group will consist of Travel Leaders Corporate, Travel Leaders Franchise Group, Travel Leaders Leisure Group and Tzell Travel Group.
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