TORONTO — Direct Travel has acquired McCord Travel Management.
Says Brian Robertson, President of Direct Travel, Canada West region: “We have admired Scott and his team’s ability to maintain an enviable reputation of providing tailored travel services to Canada’s top executives, celebrities and government representatives. The existing level of service will remain in place and be further enhanced by Direct Travel’s technology and global reach.”
The deal “is a powerful statement of the strength and diversity of Direct Travel in the travel marketplace,” he said. “We are enthusiastic about adding McCord Travel to our organization and continuing to provide a more personalized approach to the business of travel,” he added.
McCord Travel, based in Ottawa, has been in business for more than 20 years. The company will now operate as McCord Travel, A Direct Travel Company.
McCord Travel founder Scott McCord is joining Direct Travel senior management team as Director of Customer Experience. He will continue to oversee the operations of McCord Travel.
“For years, both Direct Travel and McCord Travel have consistently gone above and beyond for business and leisure clients alike,” said McCord. “Our team at McCord Travel is excited to combine our focus on highly personalized service with the expanded range of global services that Direct Travel will provide our clients.”
Travelweek checked in with Robertson this morning, to ask if the McCord deal signals a steadily building momentum in the travel sector. The acquisition is Direct Travel’s first in Canada since 2019.
“We are back to 40% across Canada and 50% across the U.S.” for transactions, measured against pre-pandemic 2019 volumes, Robertson told Travelweek.
“Forward leisure bookings are going through the roof and current corporate / meetings activity is coming back despite continued travel restrictions globally,” he added.
Agency owners Travelweek spoke to in April 2021 said that despite the pandemic’s ups and downs, “there are opportunities” for owners looking to buy or sell.
