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Walter Ingham, the company's founder, when it all began.
Amid a changing landscape of winter tour offerings and growing competition from all avenues, the wave of consolidation of leading British ski tour operators which began a few years ago didn’t show any sign of letting go.
The latest changes involved Inghams, the UK’s second largest tour operator buying out Enigma Travel group, operators of two mid size brands, Esprit Holidays and Ski Total.
Hans Lerch, Vice Chairman and CEO of Swiss parent, Hotelplan Group, and Chairman of Hotelplan UK, said in a recent statement “We are delighted with this acquisition, which is a perfect strategic fit with Inghams. This deal positions the enlarged Hotelplan UK group for significant growth across all key sectors, by reinforcing and building on the Group’s long-standing position as a formidable force in the ski sector and in specialist travel generally. We will now be able to move forward on ski with Enigma’s strength in the family and chalet sectors perfectly complementing Inghams’ strength in hotels and apartments. We will of course continue to operate under all these three well respected and highly differentiated brand names.”
The recent acquisition has also brought on a wave of personnel changes that involve Inghams current CEO, Litsa Constantinou, leaving the business. Andy Perrin, Enigma Travel Group’s Managing Director, becomes Group CEO of Hotelplan UK, bringing 29 years experience in specialist travel and the ski sector, including with the UK’s number one ski tour operator, Crystal Holidays, TUI’s Specialist Holidays Group, and at Enigma since 2002. Enigma Chairman and founder, Peter Dyer, will continue to lead the team at Esprit and Ski Total from their offices in Fleet, Hampshire, and becomes Vice Chairman of Hotelplan UK.
Perrin commented, “I have admired Inghams as a competitor throughout my entire career, and it’s a dream come true to be involved here. …I look forward to the tremendous opportunities ahead to develop and grow all aspects of this fantastic group of companies.”
Both family ski specialist Esprit and adult catered chalet and chalet hotel operator Ski Total were established 28 years ago in 1982. Inghams is celebrating its 75th year of operations.
- News: Read more ski news here.
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