Multi-billion dollar American firm Travel Leaders Group has got its sights set on acquisitions in the UK after appointing a new president.
Gail Grimmett is president of the Elite Travel Division of the business, which includes Protravel International UK and Tzell UK (Travel Leaders UK), based in London.
The UK-based brands, which are both Advantage members, focus on luxury leisure and high-end corporate travel, as well as specialist functions like working with the entertainment industry and repatriating travellers.
The business has around 60 employees in the UK, including entire agencies and “independent contractors” who can work from home or head office.
Pro Executive Travel also operates leisure and cruise business Scotia Travel in Glasgow and is one of the largest members of luxury travel consortium Virtuoso.
Industry stalwart Ade Taiwo has been appointed financial controller for Travel Leaders UK.
Earlier this summer Grimmett was introduced to the UK teams during a visit to the London offices to meet with Travel Leaders UK’s managing director Tina Rose and executive director of business development and acquisitions, Barry Whittaker.
“I am thrilled to be leading the growing operation here in the UK, which is poised for further accelerated increases,” she said.
At a media event on Thursday she revealed the business is on the acquisition trail in the UK and did not rule out buying "large" travel firms.
“After years of working with both Protravel and Tzell from the supplier side and recognising how each of them have earned their places as the agencies of choice for the most discerning and elite clientele, it’s an incredible honour to be joining these two distinguished teams both in the UK and the US,” she continued.
Before joining Protravel and Tzell, Grimmett was Delta’s senior vice-president, Global New York, where she had full financial and commercial responsibility for the airline’s domestic and international performance in New York.