Blackpool-based specialist educational travel company, Next Generation Travel (NGT), has acquired Chester-based school tour firm, Galina International Study Tours Ltd.
The acquisition enables the Cheshire-based firm to offer flights for the first time as part of its school trip packages and is set to increase NGT’s turnover to £27m, with employee numbers reaching 100 and annual passengers tallying more than 80,000
Established in 2010, Next Generation Travel includes the WST Travel, FHT Travel, Study Experiences, Anglia Tours, Sport Experiences and Remembrance Travel brands. The innovative parent company is the driving force behind seven of the UK’s fastest growing educational travel brands and offers immersive tours to young people from 10 – 21 years, which are designed to offer unique and empowering learning experiences outside of the classroom.
Established in 1989, Galina initially focused upon battlefield tours before expanding its portfolio to include school tours. The firm has built its strong reputation upon the principle that study tours must be directly relevant to the curriculum.
Speaking of the acquisition success, Deborah Beckett, Next Generation Travel managing director, said: “Galina has a fantastic reputation and matches our commitment to tailor school tours to the requirements of the curriculum. Providing high levels of customer service and bespoke tours has fuelled our growth and it’s exciting to join forces with a company that has such an affinity with our values.”
