Luxury Escapes owner goes pure travel with brand swap

India regional office a year in the making

Australian e-commerce business Lux Group will become a pure travel business headlined by flash deals site Luxury Escapes, following the acquisition of local competitors Bon Voyage and Scoopon Travel, and sale of its two non-travel brands.

Luxury Escapes’ CEO, Adam Schwab, said the acquisition enables three of the industry’s major online travel brands to increase market leadership, while retaining their respective brand identities and customer service orientation.

Luxury Escapes, Bon Voyage and Scoopon Travel have combined membership of close to three million

The three brands collectively service almost 500,000 travellers around the world each year, and have a combined membership of close to three million, according to a statement by Luxury Escapes.

Schwab added: “This transformative transaction will allow Lux Group to establish a focused and scaled travel e-commerce business with over A$300 million (US$229 million) of pro forma turnover as we continue to deliver… travel packages to consumers across Australia, New Zealand and South-east Asia.”

“Over the coming months we will closely review the brand and customer strategy to determine a long-term solution that makes the most sense for all of our current and future customers and partner properties.”

The acquisitions form part of a series of transactions between Lux Group and Catch Group that sees them swapping their travel and retail assets.

While the deals direct Lux Group’s focus to travel e-commerce, the latter will turn more to serving consumers at home, having purchased Brands Exlusive and TheHome to sit alongside Catch.com.au, GroceryRun, Mumgo and Pumpkin Patch.

Catch Group and Lux Group will also provide product and travel to an independently operated, 50/50 joint venture for local experiences, which will include businesses such as Scoopon, Cudo, LivingSocial, DEALS.com.au and New Zealand-based TreatMe.

Sponsored Post