Protravel International, No. 18 on Travel Weekly's 2010 Power List, has acquired Austin Travel.
According to a Protravel statement, Austin Travel is on pace to reach $100 million in sales in 2010. With the combined sales, Protravel anticipates sales of $750 million for the year.
New York-based Protravel was founded in 1984 by Priscilla Alexander and reported sales of $537 million in 2009. While not on the 2010 Power List, family-run Austin Travel was ranked No. 55 in 2009.
"We felt we had gone as far as possible as a regional company. With the strength and vitality of Protravel we believe we have moved Austin Travel onto a larger and more secure platform for future growth and development. The company is excited about continuing our travel careers with Protravel," said Jeff Austin, president and COO of Austin Travel.
For the merger to work, said Alexander, "We will build on our combined strengths; we are both Virtuoso members with a similar client base, and we have a shared business philosophy based on providing premium service levels and measurable results for our clients."
The Austin Travel acquisition comes just a year after Protravel acquired Mamaroneck, N.Y.-based Rich Worldwide Travel; Nelson Custom Vacations in Studio City, Calif.; and Sue Brown Travel in Boca Raton, Fla.