BOSTON -- Two Massachusetts-headquartered tour operators separately
said they are buying two other tour operators based in the state.
TNT Vacations of Boston, a Caribbean specialist, said it will
acquire competitor Magic Carpet Vacations of Chestnut Hill,
Mass.
And Yankee Holidays of Beverly, Mass., a packager of domestic
and Canadian destinations, bought a competitor, MTL Vacations of
Medford, Mass.
Two mergers don't qualify as a "wave," but industry observers
noted that when the summer travel season ends and tour-operator
revenue dwindles, the waters will get choppy.
"These are the tough times for our industry," said Bob Whitley,
president of the U.S. Tour Operators Association. "The main thing
is to continue operating and if it takes mergers and acquisitions
to do it, that's good for our industry."
Hank Phillips, president of the National Tour Association, had a
similar perspective. "There has been such a sustained period of
problems that certainly there are some companies struggling,"
Phillips said. "I have been expecting to see some consolidation.
It's too early to say, but this may be a sign that that trend is
beginning."
To contact reporter David Cogswell, send e-mail to [email protected].