Leicestershire miniple Millington Travel has signed up to The Travel Network Group as it plots expansion across the East Midlands.
The nine-store independent agency, which offers both corporate and leisure travel, has left Elite Travel Group and will become a member of The Travel Network Group on October 1.
The firm, established in 1972 and owned by Nigel Armitage and Nick Bland, is headquartered in Leicester and expects to open its tenth shop before Christmas, with plans for continued growth after that.
Gary Lewis, chief executive of The Travel Network Group, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Nigel and Nick and their team at Millington Travel to our group.
“They have built a very strong and robust business in and around Leicestershire and believe there is the opportunity to take their expertise to other locations around the East Midlands.”
Armitage added: “Millington is embarking on a new phase in its development and we believe The Travel Network Group will be the perfect partner to support our growth.
“It was apparent very early on that we are like-minded organisations and we will be a great fit both strategically and culturally.
“With a focused growth strategy we felt we needed a partner who would give us access to great technology and marketing, and one who could bring fresh ideas and opportunities.
Throughout our discussions with Gary and the team we have been overwhelmed by the level of support they are delivering to their existing members and I am confident that our business will flourish in this new partnership.”
Lewis continued: “In the last 18 months we have attracted four major players to our group and our recruitment pipeline has never been so strong.
“This demonstrates that independent travel businesses believe we have the right strategy, beliefs and team in place to help them further grow and develop.”
Millington Travel offers both leisure and corporate travel and employs over 60 staff. It joins The Travel Network Group from Elite Travel Group, which it has been a member of for 30 years.