Paul Mallon of NAGT and Steve Hornby from Albatross-Group
Norman Allen Group Travel (NAGT) is joining the Albatross Group of companies in a move that will see the two leading businesses in coach wholesaling operate separately under the single ownership of Albatross Group.
The Hereford based business, will continue as an independent brand within the Group, alongside Albatross Travel. NAGT Managing Director Paul Mallon and Financial Director, Sarah Hunter, have sold their shares in the company but will remain for a period to ensure a smooth transition.
Bringing the two businesses together – rather than a sale to a company unfamiliar with the intricacies of coach wholesaling – makes logical sense for the coach tourism industry. The change in ownership will have no impact on the day-to-day running of either NAGT or Albatross Travel, it remains business as usual, with all areas of the operation continuing as at present. Denise Bridges will assume responsibility for NAGT as Managing Director while maintaining her position as Managing Director of Albatross Travel.
Established in 1972, NAGT began as a family run business, at a time when group travel from Britain was very much in its infancy. Today the company provides high quality British, Irish, European, and Worldwide tours by coach and air. Over the years the company, which has 28 employees, has enjoyed incredible staff loyalty contributing significantly to its reputation for experience and reliable service.
Albatross Travel, due to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025, was founded in London in 1985 to provide wholesale group packages to coach operators in the UK. Today, it is part of the Albatross Group of companies, which currently has six brands in both the business-to-business and business-to-consumer sectors. The Albatross Group is the leading provider of group tourism services, operating more than 2,100 tours annually throughout the UK and Continental Europe. The company has built a reputation for professional service and a strong commitment to its customers and staff.
“We were delighted when discussions with Paul and Sarah developed about a long-term future that would eventually bring the two businesses together under a single umbrella with a shared ambition. Norman Allen Group Travel is extremely professional, well thought of within the industry, and highly valued by its clients and staff. There are many synergies between the two companies, and it makes sense to be combining our skills and expertise.
Customers of Norman Allen Group Travel can rest assured that they will continue with the high levels of customer service that they have become renowned for and that the future looks bright for the group coach tours industry,” said Denise Bridges, Managing Director of Albatross Travel.
“Albatross Travel and Norman Allen Group Travel have always had the utmost mutual respect. We have shared values and put our teams at the centre of what we do. This agreement is a great fit, and having clocked up over 50 years of service between us, Sarah and I feel now is the right time to pass on the reigns to a trusted organisation like Albatross that understands the business of coach tourism. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our talented colleagues for their exceptional service and loyalty. We plan to be with NAGT throughout the coming months before taking a long summer break. Our clients can be assured that NAGT’s experienced teams look forward to providing them with many more years of dedicated service and the overriding message is one of “business as usual”, said Paul Mallon, Managing Director Norman Allen Group Travel.
