TTG reported on May 2 how ITC had placed the Western and Oriental operation, which it acquired in 2015 along with a number of other brands, “under review”.
The company on Thursday (June 7) confirmed the merger as part of what it described as the next phase in its “planned brand strategy”.
Jennifer Atkinson, ITC Travel Group chairman, “The merger of Western & Oriental with Inspiring Travel Company will bring an extraordinary level of choice for our clients, offering our broadest ever selection of holidays under one banner and really setting us apart from the crowd.”
The amalgamation is effective as of Thursday, with the Western & Oriental website redirecting to the Inspiring Travel Company site and all customer, supplier and agent communication now taking the ITC name. ITC has said all staff would be retained.
Mal Barritt, who joined ITC in September 2017 from Destinology and was recently appointed chief executive following Atkinson’s promotion to chairman, will jointly lead the merger.
“It’s an exciting time for me to be taking the helm at ITC as we further strengthen our range of product and continue to invest in and grow our exceptional teams in Chester, London and beyond,” said Barritt.
“Tailor-made travel has been one of our strongest growth sectors in recent years and as the trend for the experiential increases and concepts of ‘luxury’ and ‘adventure’ cease to be mutually exclusive, it’s a logical next step for us to present our clients with an increased range of holiday options under our flagship Inspiring Travel Company brand.”
ITC said the merger would bring Western & Oriental’s specialist knowledge of tailor-made travel in India, the US and far east to the Inspiring Travel Company brand.
It will also boost its hotel offering 200% to 1,500 worldwide, with its villa range enjoying a similar increase, while for the first time ITC customers will be able to choose from almost 300 tailor-made touring and multi-centre itineraries.
The group says it will continue to develop new destinations such as Latin America, Canada and the Philippines, and has plans to launch new programmes in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific over the coming year.
