Managing director Diana Evans, finance director Craig Newcombe and Robert Veale, operations director, are long-standing members of the company and will continue to lead it alongside the existing team.

Evans, who has spent over 20 years with the brand, beginning her career in the call centre, described the deal as “a dream come true”.

She said: “We have a clear strategy for Great Little Breaks – we want to be the number one UK short break operator. We’ve been asked to explore European city breaks, so we’re having a look at that as well.”

Company founder Vivienne Findlay will remain a director “for the foreseeable future” and retain a reduced level of shareholding. Findlay founded HotelshopUK in 1999 to help hotels sell distressed room stock through the national press. Today, the group employs more than 100 people.

She added: “I am absolutely delighted that my management team are now major shareholders of the company. We have worked together for many years for this moment. I know they will continue to grow HotelshopUK and continue to deliver impeccable service to all of our clients.”

Evans said UK sales had flourished during lockdown with the trade’s help, with UK passenger numbers running to between 30,000 to 40,000. “We want to at least triple the size of Great Little Breaks in the next three years,” she added.

HotelshopUK was on track for a record-breaking year “with turnover in excess of £20 million”, she said. 

“This year, for the first five months, we had few departures, but over the summer, every month has surpassed previous years. In four months, we took what we had nearly taken in the whole year previously.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic; we have a lot to thank the trade for – it was nearly 50% of sales last year.”