Classic Vacations is considering expansion beyond the U.S. under its new ownership.
It has been a year of change for the luxury vacation wholesaler. India-based travel distribution platform TBO completed its acquisition of Classic last October. And earlier this month, CEO Melissa Krueger left the company -- a mutual decision, said Gaurav Bhatnagar, TBO's co-founder and joint managing director.
In an interview, Bhatnagar discussed the possibility of establishing the business in more countries.
"Our whole thesis coming into Classic was that luxury travel is set for a global boom," Bhatnagar said. "Classic has a beautiful business model, but for 50 years it's been only in North America -- in fact, only in the U.S. -- so can Classic go global with its model?”
CFO Sharon Conway, Classic's interim CEO, said the company "would never" stray from its wholesaler-retailer business model, and that travel advisors and suppliers have urged Classic to maintain it.
Conway said she plans to spend her first 90 days as interim CEO listening to input from travel agencies and employees about where the company excels and where it can improve.
She said partners have requested strengthened technology, which Conway says is in the works.