London-based global investment firm KKR on Thursday
completed its acquisition of Travelopia, a group of travel companies
that includes Europe Express, International Expeditions, TCS World Travel and
Quark Expeditions from its former owner TUI AG.
U.K.-based Travelopia consists of 53 international travel
brands, many of which are well-known U.S.-based tour operators, including (in
addition to those listed above) Zegrahm Expeditions, YMT Vacations, StudentCity
and Brian Moore International Tours.
Travelopia was formed in May 2016, when TUI rebranded its
Specialist Group division to Travelopia in preparation for selling off that
division. KKR announced its decision to acquire Travelopia in February and the
transaction was finalized on Thursday.
Travelopia reports that it has an international customer
base of more than 800,000 travelers per year and serves more than 70
destinations throughout the world.