Carolyn Lodge joins the group, bringing with her some 30 years’ expertise and the services of her award-winning team at Carolyn Lodge Travel, the business Lodge founded from scratch in March 1987.

Karen Beagrie, Meon Valley director, said the mutually beneficial agreement would allow Lodge’s business to leverage Meon Valley’s “specialist reach”. Meon Valley, meanwhile, will be able to tap into Lodge’s “vast wealth of experience, cherished relationships and passion”.

“Acquiring the fantastic team at Carolyn Lodge Travel brings an enormous wealth of experience to the business complementing customers with clear counsel and added value,” said Beagrie.

“We have always admired Carolyn and her business for delivering exceptional levels of customer service and care that complements our own ideals and I’m delighted we will be working together.”

Lodge, managing director of Carolyn Lodge Travel, added: “I’m truly delighted we are joining Meon Valley Travel. Their professionalism and experience will enable us to move forward with the comfort of continued security and longevity for our lovely loyal clients whom we truly treasure.

“We shall now also be able to broaden our horizons with the greater resource reach and support that we have respected from afar for many years. We are therefore open for business as usual and I am looking forward very much to an exciting and bright new future together with Meon Valley Travel.”