MILWAUKEE -- Adelman Travel Systems, a corporate-oriented agency
with sales in excess of $127 million and headquarters here,
purchased Colorado Connection Travel, a $6 million,
corporate-oriented agency in Denver.
The Denver agency will operate for a transitional period as
Adelman's Colorado Connection and then use the Adelman Travel name
only, according to Robert Mintz, previously the owner and president
of Colorado Connection Travel.
Asked the reason for the sale, Mintz said, "I just don't believe
there is a great future for agencies at this size."
Mintz said he is making a switch from agency owner to corporate
travel manager. He will relocate to become manager of global travel
services for Rotary International in Evanston, Ill.
Prior to the acquisition, Adelman Travel had a presence in
Colorado through its on-site corporate account locations.
With Colorado Connection, the agency gained a "stand-alone
reservations center" in the state, according to Robert Chaiken,
Adelman's chief operating officer.
Denver is just one of several markets targeted for acquisitions
by Adelman. The agency has several acquisitions in the works,
according to Chaiken. "We are trying to achieve a certain size," he
said.
A solid corporate base is the key ingredient for acquisition
targets, but given Adelman's efforts to expand the leisure side of
its business it is interested in agencies with a strong mix of
leisure sales, as well, he said.
Adelman's Colorado Connection acquisition was facilitated by
Innovative Travel Acquisitions, a matchmaker based in Roswell,
Ga.