Leisure destinations operator Compagnie des Alpes has acquired a 73% stake in vacation rental and group trip organiser Travelfactory for an undisclosed sum.
Compagnie des Alpes will have the option to acquire the remaining 27% of the company from Yariv Abehsera, founder of Travelfactory, over the next four years.
Founded in 2000, Travelfactory owns and operates the brands Travelski (an online travel agency that specializes in ski holidays) and SimplytoSki (online rental of ski equipment and complementary services), as well as Golden Voyages and Ski-line, two travel agencies that specialise in selling ski holidays for students, targeting the French and Belgian markets.
The company also owns online tour operator Locatour. It employs 130 people and generates annual sales of approximately €35 million.
The deal will support Compagnie des Alpes’ ski business as the largest operator of ski resorts in the French Alps. A press release from the company announcing the acquisition said that it would “simultaneously complete its offering of mountain holidays and accommodation, gain access to younger clients, and reinforce both its expertise and digital footprint”.
Dominique Marcel, Chairman and CEO of Compagnie des Alpes, said: “The acquisition of Travelfactory will help us accelerate our development in the integrated distribution of ski holidays, which is in line with our ambition of being able to act directly on the resort occupancy rate.
“Travelfactory brings us very solid expertise in digital distribution, a stock of additional accommodation and access to new and younger customers, like students, who are key to regenerate ski resort attendance.”
Compagnie des Alpes reported increased revenues and attendance for leisure destinations in 2017 and is exploring the sale of a stake to international conglomerate Fosun. François Fassier, Director of Operations for the company’s Leisure Destinations division, told Blooloop that a five year upgrade plan for its theme parks is underway to improve visitor satisfaction.
