Manchester-based travel agency Sports Tours International has acquired Golf Holidays Direct – the UK’s fastest-growing golf travel operator.
By joining forces, Sports Tours International aims to propel Golf Holidays Direct into a market-leading position and create the UK’s largest sports travel group. Sports Tours International is the current global market leader in running and cycling travel, having posted record results for the last two years. Similarly, Golf Holidays Direct, established in 2017, has experienced explosive growth since the pandemic and is Europe’s third-largest golf travel operator.
Sports Tours International’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Przybysz, said, “I couldn’t be prouder to partner with the team at Golf Holidays Direct. They are a natural fit, possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for their sport that mirrors ours.
Both companies share common values of excellence, delivering first-class customer experience and innovation.”
The Golf Holidays Direct brand will remain unchanged. It will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Stevenage, led by founder Lewis Remington as Managing Director. On the deal, he said, “Joining the Sports Tours family represents a landmark moment for Golf Holidays Direct as we seek to redefine the golf travel industry.
This acquisition will enable the combined team to leverage each other’s strengths and unlock further growth opportunities”.
Sports Tours International was advised by a legal team from Gateleys led by Charles Glaskie.
The corporate finance team from Dow Schofield Watts in the Midlands, led by Ryan Shields and Fahim Kassam, worked closely with the shareholders and lawyers from Howes Percival, led by Tom Redman, to advise Golf Holidays Direct on the sale to Sports Tours International.
From L – R: Fahim Kassam, Derrick Remington, Lewis Remington, Tim Przybysz, and Ryan Shields.
Commenting on the deal, Partner Ryan Shields added, “We are delighted to have found a fantastic partner for Golf Holidays Direct moving forward and are excited to follow its next steps as part of the wider Sports Tours family. We worked closely with the shareholders to prepare the business for sale and ran a full sale process with UK and International parties. Sports Tours International was the standout strategic partner, delivering a strong outcome for the shareholders with an innovative structure and commercial approach throughout.
We look forward to seeing the combined group capitalise on its strengths and unique capabilities as they look to build the preeminent sports travel group”.
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