Risk Capital Partners, a private equity firm, has invested in Simpson Travel, a company specializing in holidays to Mediterranean destinations, including Greece. The travel operator provides boutique hotel stays, luxury villas, and apartments in Corsica, France, Greece, Italy, Mallorca, and Turkey.
Following the deal, former Hotelplan UK CEO Paul Carter will take on the role of chairman, while Ed Pyke (pictured right) will be promoted from operations director to CEO.
Founder Graham Simpson (pictured left) will remain on the board as an advisor, while his two sons, Mathew and Daniel, and daughter Hannah will continue in their roles as product director, commercial director, and head of trade sales, respectively.
About Simpson Travel
Graham Simpson founded Simply Travel, originally known as Simply Crete, in 1978, offering villa holidays in Greece.
Thomson Holidays acquired Simply Travel in 1999, and in 2002, Simpson founded Simpson Travel, taking on the role of managing director in 2008.
About Risk Capital Partners
Led by Luke Johnson, RCP has extensive experience in supporting consumer-facing businesses and the travel industry. The firm has been involved with Cruise.co and Neilson Active Holidays. RCP will support Simpson Travel’s management team in expanding its product offerings across Europe.
Luke Johnson, former chairman of Pizza Express and Channel 4, served as chairman of Neilson Active Holidays from 2014 to 2018 before its sale. He was also the largest shareholder and non-executive board member of Elegant Hotels, which was sold to Marriott for $200 million in 2019.
Record bookings for Simpson Travel in 2024
Simpson Travel achieved record bookings in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 bookings continuing to grow.
Ed Pyke noted that the investment and support from RCP will aid Simpson Travel’s growth plans.
Graham Simpson expressed confidence in the new management team’s ability to further develop the business, emphasizing that its reputation is built on exceptional service and the high quality of its accommodations.
“We believe Simpson Travel is an outstanding brand with an exceptionally loyal customer base. We look forward to supporting Ed and the management team in their ambitious plans for the business’s growth,” added Luke Johnson.
Late last year, Simpson Travel began testing a new portal that allows travel agents to book villas and hotels for their clients and hold reservations for up to 24 hours.
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