Travel Leaders Group (formerly Carlson Leisure Group) has acquired the agency consortium Vacation.com from Amadeus.
Travel Leaders Group CEO Barry Liben said Vacation.com will continue to operate as a stand-alone division led by President Steve Tracas, who will report directly to Liben.
Amadeus, which had owned Vacation.com since 2000, said Vacation.com was "ready to further evolve, and Amadeus has been evolving to firmly focus on serving as an IT solutions provider."
Vacation.com joins Travel Leaders Group’s several other agency brands: Travel Leaders, Tzell, Results Travel, Nexion, Cruise Holidays and Cruise Specialists.
With the acquisition, Travel Leaders Group now comprises nearly 6,400 wholly owned, franchised and affiliated locations, which amounts to almost 30% of the total travel agencies located within the U.S. and Canada, Liben said.
He added that Vacation.com provides "unprecedented volume in serving high-end and ultra high-end travelers."
"With over $300 million in annual luxury sales volume alone, Vacation.com significantly increases our presence in the luxury market, and we expect to aggressively increase this over time," he said.
Travel Leaders Group Chairman Michael Batt said Vacation.com "brings excellent-quality agencies, increased size and significant buying opportunities."
"We exist solely to improve the operations and profitability of traditional travel agencies and agents, and there is no question in my mind that by bringing together almost one-third of North America’s agencies under one umbrella, we can do even more for each and every agency and agent working within our brands and companies," Batt said.
Amadeus said it will remain a preferred supplier for Vacation.com and that mutual programs currently in place will continue.