Irish travel company MyguideIreland merges with US firm in €3m deal
Crystal Travel and Tours will acquire a stake in MyguideIreland through this investment and both companies will operate under the holding company MyguideTravel.
The new company will provide package vacations in Ireland and Britain and will operate as myguideIreland for vacations to Ireland and MyguideBritain for vacations to Britain.
Managing director of MyguideTravel, Conor B Buckley said: “They have a wealth of experience which we can utilise and moving forward we can offer our guests unique and authentic holidays in Ireland and Britain which will be great value for money.
“MyguideTravel is doing very well at the moment and things are good. We expect to use the money invested by Crystal to fund some further expansions and acquisitions and we hope
to be making a lot more announcements.”
Turnover at MyguideTravel is expected to hit €14m this year, an increase from €8m last year.
Founder and president of Crystal Travel and Tours James P Kelly said: “We’re delighted to announce the success of the merger between these two like-minded companies which means we can provide the very best customised holidays to Ireland and Britain.”
Conor B Buckley will be MyguideTravel chief executive and Jim Kelly will report to him as president. Both will sit on the board of directors of MyguideTravel and the Kelly family will take up strategic roles in the expanded company.
MyguideIreland was established in Ireland nine years ago and it was formerly known as 1 2 Travel. They have operated in Britain since 2004.
Crystal Travel meanwhile was established in Boston 22 years ago by James Kelly and his wife Teresa, both of whom were Irish emigrants to the USA in the 1960s.
