History & Structure
The Group was founded in 2002 by Alan Judd, Clive Dolman and Hugo Kimber. The founders' vision was to build a travel group that specialised in luxury holidays, and in so doing build a product offering and brand recognition capable of competing with the largest of the international market leaders. To this end the Group acquired, integrated and grew the three complementary businesses of Western & Oriental Travel, Regent Holidays and the Mediterranean Experience (in both the UK and Germany) between 2002 and 2004.
On 27 March 2006, Western & Oriental plc was admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. Also on that date the Group completed two acquisitions, Ranch America and Lynton Cooper. Both acquisitions complemented the Group's products by adding specialist holiday offerings to North America and the addition of a Conference and Incentive business to the Group.
Since admission to AIM the group has continued to grow both organically and through acquisition.
In 2009 the group consolidated its businesses further with a move towards single brands with the Conference & Incentive Division operating through the W&O Events brand and the Tour Operating business operating through the W&O Travel brand, although Regent Holidays will continue to offer it City Breaks programme and Key2holidays operates the group’s online distribution channel.
Click Here to view our Annual results presentation for the year ended 30 September 2009