08 Jan Travel Leaders Group Acquires Leading U.K.-based Meetings and Event Management Firm, YES
The Addition of YES Expands the Company’s Growing Global MICE Business
New York, New York (Jan. 8, 2019) – Travel Leaders Group has acquired Halifax, UK-based YES (Your Event Solutions), an award-winning MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) business with global meetings and event expertise and a reputation for high quality, personalized service.
The addition of YES complements Travel Leaders Group’s growing presence in the Meetings & Incentive marketplace and will provide both firms with additional geographic reach and meetings expertise.
A full-service event provider, YES provides a range of corporate event solutions from individually-tailored venue sourcing, meetings and training events to executive conferences, large-scale exhibitions, product launch events and incentive travel programmes in all locations globally. The firm also assists in client outsource planning for annual meetings, calendar training programs and fulfillment. Sue Gill, founder and Chief Executive Officer of YES, will remain in her current leadership role. YES will retain its brand and no major operating changes are anticipated at the company.
“Bringing YES into the Travel Leaders Group family creates some exciting new prospects for both enterprises,” said Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko, CTC. “Sue and her team at YES are innovative, enthusiastic and place a high priority on personalized service.”
With an estimated $20 billion in annual gross travel volume worldwide, Travel Leaders Group is one of the fastest-growing travel retail companies and service providers in North America and the United Kingdom.
YES (Your Event Solutions) is a respected and award-winning MICE agency with experienced teams in London, Yorkshire, Switzerland, France, Eastern Europe, Brazil and the Middle East.
“We are so excited YES has been identified as the perfect partner to expand Travel Leaders Group’s MICE offering globally,” said Gill. “Becoming part of Travel Leaders Group gives us a broader platform of service offerings to provide to our existing and new clients including technology solutions, as well as corporate, entertainment and leisure travel offerings and expertise. Our team is excited about the opportunity to share expertise and to expand on the YES brand’s reputation in North America and beyond.”
Travel Leaders Group’s vast network and reach will provide YES with new opportunities and new capabilities in serving its clientele.
After having founded and led the company for the past 18 years, Gill said, “From humble beginnings, we are now part of one of America’s largest travel companies. I’m excited for our future together,” Gill said.
A key focus for Travel Leaders Group, which consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies in U.S., has been to expand its MICE business.
“As demand for travel continues and inventory tightens, it’s critical for businesses to take advantage of the services of an event planning firm. When people are coming from different countries, logistics are an even greater priority,” said Chacko. “YES has experience in a variety of sought-after meetings destinations which will serve our clients well.”
YES has been recognized for its work in Meetings, Incentive Travel and Conferences. The YES team manages meetings and events for top FTSE100 and NYSE companies globally with bespoke MICE solutions in: Pharmaceutical, Technology, Health & Beauty, Manufacturing, Financial, Retail and Telecommunications.
Travel Leaders U.K. portfolio will now include YES, Barrhead Travel, Colletts Travel, Protravel International U.K. and Tzell U.K. and ALTOUR, which are among the U.K.’s leading travel companies.
Travel Leaders Group is a leader in both consumer retail travel and corporate travel, and consistently ranks as one of the top travel companies nationwide.
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About Travel Leaders Group
Travel Leaders Group (www.TravelLeadersGroup.com) is transforming travel with a commitment to our vacation and business travel clients through our progressive approach toward each unique travel experience. Having already assisted millions of travelers, Travel Leaders Group manages leisure, business and franchise travel operations under a variety of diversified divisions and brands. With over 6,000 agency locations, Travel Leaders Group ranks as one of the industry’s largest travel agency companies. Travelers also have access to The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group, a portfolio of select travel offers including discounts on international and domestic flights, value-added benefits at lodging establishments, shipboard credits on cruises and savings on escorted and vacation packages. Membership to The Travel Collection is offered at no additional cost to U.S. American Express Gold Card, Business Gold Rewards Card, Platinum Card® and Business Platinum Card® Members. For more information visit www.TheTravelCollection.com.
About YES:
Founded in 2001, by Sue Gill, Managing Director & CEO, YES has grown to be one of the most respected Business Event Solution providers in Europe and beyond. Clients range from smaller companies to multinational corporations with events being held in locations around the globe. YES provides a range of corporate event solutions with team experience based in London, the United States, France, Eastern Europe, Switzerland, Middle East, APAC and Latin America.