hotelshopUK MBO
The management team of hotelshopUK checks-in for the next stage of growth
The management team of hotelshopUK checks-in for the next stage of growth
Alinea has advised on the management buyout of £20 million turnover hotelshopUK, an award-winning UK focused leisure and business travel agent.
Alinea have achieved in 3 months what we have been trying to do for 3 years. We have been so impressed by their ability to simplify the process, enabling us to reach agreement on a number of matters. I wouldn’t have been able to get this done without them, they have been my rock through out. Vivienne Findlay, Founder
Founded by Vivienne Findlay in 1999 hotelshopUK was originally established to enable hotels to sell room capacity via a third party in the national press.
Today through continued investment in its tech-driven platforms and brands the company employs over 100 people with a turnover in excess of £20 million. Reflecting that investment, last month one of the company’s leading brands, Great Little Breaks, was named the best UK holidays brand of 2021 by the UK travel trade.
The management buyout was led by Diana Evans (Managing Director), Craig Newcombe (Finance Director) and Robert Veale (Operations Director), all of whom are longstanding directors of the company. Despite a challenging season for the industry, the management team have been able to continue developing an established platform which will facilitate growth as they continue to lead and drive the company forward.
Diana Evans, Managing Director said of the deal, “I am absolutely thrilled to be able to finally announce this news. We have been working towards this for a long time so to see it come to completion at last is a dream come true. A lot of time has been invested in creating a robust business platform and as a management team we are excited to be able to implement our vision and business plans to take hotelshopUK to the next phase of growth”.
Vivienne Findlay, Founder said “hotelshopUK has been my life for over 20 years and I’m immensely proud of what the whole team has achieved. Over the years the management team have gone from strength to strength, continually pushing to drive the company to the very forefront of the industry. I have every confidence in their ability, along with the outstanding wider team, to see hotelshopUK achieve all that it can and more”.
Simon Lloydbottom of Alinea said “advising on this deal alongside the superb hotelshopUK team has been a real pleasure, I’m so proud to be announcing this deal. This is a great example of how we support both owners and management teams through the buy out process, from start to finish, helping to balance a number of financial and commercial points along the way. I just know Diana, Craig and Rob will do an outstanding job of building on what Viv has created over the last 20 years”.
Alongside Alinea, Jamie Partington from Higgs & Sons advised the shareholders and Clare Lang from mfg solicitors advised the management team.