Mark Travel To Purchase Exclusive Group Travel

The Mark Travel Corporation, parent of Funjet Vacations, has reached an agreement to acquire Long Island-based tour operator Exclusive Group Travel (EGT), bringing together two prominent leisure travel providers. Mark Travel also owns Blue Sky Tours, Southwest Vacations and United Vacations, and a wellness travel group.

Exclusive sells exclusively to travel agents, specializing in FIT and group travel in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

The two companies plan to execute the agreement by April 1. After that, EGT will operate as part of Funjet, but EGT’s Long Island call center and groups team will remain.

In a letter to travel agents, EGT president and CEO Steve Gorga said “sales support will be transitioned to a member of Mark Travel’s nationwide sales team. If you already work with Mark Travel you will be familiar with your Business Development Manager or Business Development Specialist. If Mark Travel is new to you, a member of the team will reach out to you. The EGT sales team will remain in place for a number of weeks to help with this transition of sales support.”

At The Mark Travel Corporation, executive vice president of travel agency engagement Mark Noennig said, “This announcement is a significant moment for The Mark Travel Corporation and will combine the best of both organizations to strengthen the company’s commitment to travel agents.” 

Mark Travel’s sales team will be meeting with travel agents “over the next couple of weeks,” as the transaction proceeds, and “the EGT and Mark Travel teams will be working together to make the transition as seamless as possible for future bookings, policies and procedures,” the companies said.

“We have been successful over the past three years due in large part to the support of travel agent community,” Gorga said. “The Mark Travel Corporation’s acquisition of our organization will enable travel agents to avail themselves of more resources, tools and training to help build and grow their business. We are excited to be part of an organization that owns and operates such highly regarded brands.”