TTC sells Creative Cruising

THE Travel Corporation today confirmed the sale of its Creative Cruising cruise wholesale operation to the owners of Express Travel Group, including ETG ceo Tom Manwaring ( TD breaking news), with the deal to become effective next Tue 19 Dec.

TTC ceo John Veitch said it had been “fantastic to witness Creative Cruising’s phenomenal success over the last few years, and I’m thrilled for the team as it enters a new phase of growth under new ownership”.

TTC acquired Creative Cruising when it purchased Adventure World and several other brands from NRMA’s Tourism and Leisure Holdings ( TD 03 Oct 2013).

The motoring group had in turn purchased Creative Cruising plus Coral Seas and Value Tours, eventually selling the combined businesses along with Adventure World to TTC for a fraction of the original price ( TD 09 Sep 2014).

Creative Cruising was rebranded as part of Creative Holidays, but the Travel Corporation eventually closed its general wholesale business ( TD 08 Dec 2015) leaving Creative Cruising standing alone.

It is very much business as usual after the acquisition, with Creative Cruising to remain in its current premises in Sydney and the existing team in place including gm Peter Forsyth.

Manwaring said the business would “continue to be a standalone business servicing travel agent businesses of all sizes and channels across Australia”.