TUI Travel Acquires Starquest Expeditions

TUI Travel has acquired Seattle-based Starquest Expeditions, a luxury adventure travel operator, for an undisclosed amount. Starquest, which was founded in 2003, specializes in private jet tours with an average ticket price of $50,000 per passenger.

TUI, which also owns luxury adventure operator TCS Expeditions, said that both brands will continue to operate independently. According to TUI, Starquest is expected to run seven around-the-world trips in 2008 and nearly 90 percent of those seats have already been sold.

“The acquisition of Starquest gives us a significant leadership position in the U.S. private jet adventure market,” John Wimbleton, managing director of the TUI Travel activity sector, said in a statement.