TORONTO — Industry veteran Joe DeMarinis says he’s retiring from Red Label Holdings, the company that he and his brothers built from the ground up.

Earlier this year Red Label announced its acquisition by a subsidiary of Japan’s H.I.S. Group. Red Label Holdings is the parent company for Redtag.ca, itravel2000.com, The Travel Experts and TravelBrands. The H.I.S. Group acquisition came into effect March 1.

With over 30 years in the industry DeMarinis says he has decided to retire from travel and spend time with his wife and family.

“Over the years I have had many partners and colleagues become great friends,” says DeMarinis. “I thank you for the great memories that I take with me, and will miss each and everyone of you.

“I’m excited to see what lies ahead and will update you.”

Red Label owners Frank DeMarinis, Joe DeMarinis and Enzo DeMarinis got into the travel business in 1983 with Bel Air Travel.

In 2001 Bel Air was bought out and brought into the fold of what would later become Thomas Cook Canada.

The DeMarinis brothers returned in 2004 with Redtag.ca. Their 2013 deal, when they acquired the North American segment of Thomas Cook Group plc for $5.3 million – after Airtours PLC (which later merged with Thomas Cook) paid a reported $79.8 million in 1995 for Sunquest alone – also included their very own Bel Air Travel / belairtravel.com, later folded into Redtag.ca.

In 2016 Red Label added to its holdings with itravel2000.