Colpitts World Travel bought by rival group Direct

The Edinburgh and Aberdeen offices of a global travel firm have been bought up in a deal combining two US-based operators, with all 25 staff north of the Border being kept on.

Direct Travel has acquired fellow business travel specialist Colpitts. Picture: Tim Ockenden/PA Wire

Business travel specialist Direct Travel has announced its purchase of Massachusetts-based Colpitts World Travel for an undisclosed sum.

It includes Colpitts’ Scottish-based European operations, based in Edinburgh with 15 staff and ten in Aberdeen, and the firm “will continue to trade under its current brand for the foreseeable future with both Scottish-based operations retaining their existing staff and management teams”.

Ian Scholes, director of European operations at Colpitts, which has worldwide sales volumes of more than £70 million, said the acquisition was an “ideal fit” for the firm, adding: “This strategic partnership allows an agency of our size to gain significant advantage with suppliers and allows us to deliver new innovative technologies and enhanced services to our customers.”

Direct Travel, which has annual sales of more than $1.8 billion (£1.4bn), said the deal aligns with its plans to expand through acquisition and organic growth.

Chief executive Ed Adams said: “This acquisition is an impressive addition to our organisation, supports our growth strategy, and provides further opportunity for the investment in strategic business practices across our enterprise.”