TUI Travel has acquired Seattle-based
Starquest Expeditions, a luxury adventure travel operator, for an
undisclosed amount.
Starquest, which
was founded in 2003, specializes in private jet tours with an
average ticket price of $50,000 per passenger.
TUI, which also
owns luxury adventure operator TCS Expeditions, said that both
brands will continue to operate independently.
According to TUI,
Starquest is expected to run seven around-the-world trips in 2008
and nearly 90% of those seats have already been sold.
"The acquisition of
Starquest gives us a significant leadership position in the U.S.
private jet adventure market," John Wimbleton, managing director of
the TUI Travel activity sector, said in a statement.
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