News 2002

10 December
Flight Centre Limited ready to take off in cruise market

Flight Centre Limited has moved to increase its presence in the cruise market with the acquisition of an established business that specialises in sea-based travel.

Australia's leading travel retailer today announced the acquisition of Sydney-based business Cruiseabout and associated retail outlet Turramurra Travel, in a $370,000 deal.

Flight Centre Limited chairman Norman Fussell said Cruiseabout and Turramurra Travel was a profitable business with a proven record of success.

He said the acquisition would create good synergies for Flight Centre Limited, with Cruiseabout and Turramurra Travel's founders, husband and wife Ross and Denise Blackmore, bringing a wealth of cruise expertise to the company.

Flight Centre Limited's acquisition policy is to look at opportunities that fill a niche in our total business and this is clearly the case with Cruiseabout and Turramurra Travel, Mr Fussell said.

Cruiseabout in particular is a small and focussed operation that has been extremely successful in the area that we have not been involved in to any great degree, the database marketing of cruise packages.

The staff have years of experience in the cruise industry and will work closely with our people to benefit the company as a whole.

Flight Centre Limited acquisitions manager John Ahern said the Blackmores would continue to be heavily involved in the running of Cruiseabout, with both it and Turramurra Travel becoming part of Flight Centre Limited's holiday division in Australia.

The holiday division, which is led by Melanie Waters-Ryan, also includes retail brand Great Holiday Escape, wholesaler Infinity Holidays and a number of boutique agencies similar to Turramurra Travel.

Mr Ahern said Turramarra Travel would become Turramurra Travel Associates and would operate independently of Cruiseabout.