Frances Grogan’s parents founded Grogan Travel in Tuam, Ireland, in 1950; she joined the business in 1989 and has worked for it ever since. The agency will now pass into the hands of Frosch Ireland, which is making its third acquisition in as many years.
Managing director Grogan admitted that while it was tough to sell up after 75 years, she was delighted to have found a new home in Frosch, remarking on the two businesses’ shared values.
"Frosch treats their staff and customers as number one and they are our priorities," she said. "It’s vital to have great staff who are loyal, and it’s the same for the customers. It obviously shows too as our figures grow year-on-year so we’re doing something right."
All five members of the agency’s staff will remain with the business, with Grogan herself poised to stay on to oversee the transition before taking up an ambassadorial role.
Grogan said the name above the shop would remain the same despite the acquisition. "They’re not changing the name as the name means something here," she said. "The name is recognised here in the west of Ireland and throughout Ireland – if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”
Angela Walsh, Frosch Ireland chief executive and a former president of the Irish Travel Agents Association, said the business would be boosted by increased back office support, technology, training and 24-hour service.
Grogan added she was looking forward to spending some more time with her family. “I’ve grown up with Grogan Travel," she continued.
"Even as a child, we would be going out for a spin on a Sunday and mum would get a call to arrange a flight for somebody and we would change our plans – the customers always came first, and that was my life.”
Frosch’s acquisition of Grogan follows those of KC Travel in Tralee, County Kerry, in 2022, and Dublin-based The Travel Broker in 2024, and the group remains in an acquisitive mood.
Walsh, who founded travel management firm CTM Travel Limited in 2000 before a merger with US firm Frosch in 2018 to create Frosch Ireland, told TTG the group was in conversation with agencies throughout the Emerald Isle with a view to further acquisitions.
While she remained tight-lipped about who she is talking to, she added the key qualities she looks for in a potential new partner are a passion for travel and commitment to service.
“If you have a really high level of customer service, and people can show the passion, commitment and energy they have put into their business over years, then they are a fit for us," she said.
Walsh added she knew Grogan Travel fulfilled these criteria after meeting Frances Grogan. “I put it all down to meeting Frances – I could see she had the same shared passion about the business, the customers and the staff.
"Grogan has a really long-standing reputation and is a trusted local business and we want to make it stronger and allow them to grow."
