TMS buys in Place Recruitment

TODAY marks the end of an era in Australian travel industry recruiting - and the start of a new one, with the sale of inPlace Recruitment to rival TMS Talent.

inPlace founder and ceo Sandra Chiles has sold the business after more than 37 years in travel recruitment, saying “I couldn’t be happier with the new direction and exciting opportunities that lie ahead”.

Chiles established her company in 1981 as the first specialist travel and tourism recruitment agency in Australia, which was originally known as Travel People.

In 2006 she expanded through the acquisition of Travel Personnel, with the merged business rebranded to become inPlace Recruitment.

She said she was looking forward to taking a step back from the day-to-day management of the business, as well as supporting TMS and the travel and tourism industry as a whole.

TMS Talent global md John Terry has driven the growth of the business in recent years, including the recent acquisition of London- based rival New Frontiers.

Terry said he was excited at the collaboration of “Australia’s two leading travel and hospitality recruitment brands”.

TMS Asia-Pacific was originally founded by Garry Marshall and Phil Hoffmann and established a range of international operations, but has had a lower profile within the trade since its sale some years ago ( TD 12 Nov 2012) to a consortium led by Steve Hamblin.

The acquisition of inPlace would “strengthen the group’s access to an extensive international pool of quality, experienced candidates for our clients and open up a significant portfolio of leading company brands for our job- seekers,” Terry enthused.

The inPlace team has already relocated to the TMS Talent office in Hunter St, Sydney.