CIT adds Canada & Alaska

THE Newsom family is on the acquisition trail again, with confirmation that long time industry identity Ed Smith has sold Canada & Alaska Specialist Holidays to Newsom’s Europe- focused CIT Holidays.

It’s the end of an era for Smith, who has been involved in the Australian travel industry for more than 40 years and was a pioneer in promoting Canada as a primary destination for Aussie travellers, rather than as an add- on to travel to the USA.

Smith’s career included eight years with Trafalgar before establishing the Canada & Alaska Program at Adventure World - also founded by Peter Newsom prior to its sale to NRMA in 2009.

Smith also worked at Cunard, then set up the North America division of tal Pacific Holidays before starting his own Canada & Alaska Specialist Holidays in 2006.

CIT commercial director Kate Newsom said she was thrilled at the acquisition from Smith.

“As niche specialists in holidays to Europe, in particular Italy & Switzerland, we already deal with a similar demographic to that of the Canada & Alaska team.

“We see this as both an expansion of our business and a diversification to what we already do, with Canada and Alaska two of the hottest destinations for Australians travelling overseas,” she said.

Canada & Alaska Specialist Holidays has moved into the CIT Holidays office in George St, Sydney, with its four expert staff “looking forward to assisting agents in all aspects of booking to those destinations”.

Other businesses in the Newsom stable include Perth- based operator Travel Directors.