Balmer Lawrie takes over “Vacations Exotica”

Kolkata, 06 Feb, 2014

Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., a Mini Ratna - I PSE with diversified business portfolios, announced the takeover of the premier holidays brand “Vacations Exotica” along with its people and business, on 6th February, 2014. This takeover is an endeavor to strengthen its foothold in the Tours domain. Balmer Lawrie is one of the largest travel & tour agents in India providing domestic & international travel and ticketing, and travel & tourism related services to its clients. Balmer Lawrie Tours & Travel is the oldest IATA accredited travel agency in India. It enjoys a high level of trust, and services major customers in Government, Ministries & Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Private Corporates and others. With 88 touch points pan India including ISO certified branches in all major cities, Balmer Lawrie Tours & Travel services customers round the clock through its 24x7 Call Center and an Online Travel Portal.  
This takeover will help Balmer Lawrie to expand its value proposition and offer end-to-end services in the Tours and MICE segment as Vacations Exotica brings with it a multi-talented work force and a wide range of holiday packages. Vacations Exotica began operations in October 2007 and currently has a team with more than 118 people, 9 offices in India, 4 associate offices Including 1 in USA and is represented by 113 Preferred Partners. Within a span of 7 years of its inception, Vacations Exotica is today ranked among the top 5 holiday companies in India nationally.
 
About Balmer Lawrie
Founded by two Scotsmen, George Stephen Balmer and Alexander Lawrie, in Kolkata, Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. started its corporate journey as a Partnership Firm on 1st February 1867. Traversing the 147 years gone by, today Balmer Lawrie is a Miniratna I Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas with a turnover of Rs 2762 crores and a profit of Rs 223 crores (FY 2012-13). Balmer Lawrie is a much-respected transnational diversified conglomerate with presence in both manufacturing and service sectors. Balmer Lawrie is a market leader in Logistics Services, Steel Barrels, Industrial Greases & Specialty Lubricants and Corporate Travel. It also has significant presence in most other businesses, it operates, viz, Performance Chemicals, Logistics Infrastructure etc.
 
Today Balmer Lawrie has seven business units – Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Tours & Travel, Industrial Packaging, Greases & Lubricants, Performance Chemicals and Refinery & Oilfield Services with Plants & Offices spread across the country and abroad.
 
Balmer Lawrie has also grown inorganically through various JVs over the period of time. Joint ventures in Indiainclude Transafe Services Ltd., Balmer Lawrie – Van Leer Ltd., AVI-OIL India Pvt. Ltd., Balmer Lawrie Hind Terminals Pvt. Ltd. Joint ventures abroad include Balmer Lawrie [UAE] LLC and PT Balmer Lawrie Indonesia.
 
 
About Vacations Exotica
Vacations Exotica began operations in October 2007 with a dedicated team of like-minded professionals. As on date, the team has expanded to more than 118 spread across 9 offices in India, 4 associate offices including 1 in USA, and represented by 113 Preferred Partners. As a pan India Company Vacations Exotica has clients from all parts of India and also Indians settled in the USA and GCC Countries. 
 
Vacations Exotica takes pride in clocking continuous average growth of 25% since its inception unrivalled in this competitive market, with a large number of repeat clients.  Their strength in organizing Group Tours to USA, South America, Canada, the continent of Europe, Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Middle East, Mauritius, China, Japan et al has put them on a firm pedestal. They have also created a niche in the Indian Holidays segment with Group Tours to Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, North East, Rajasthan, Nepal, Sikkim and many other destinations. Vacations Exotica has specialized and excelled in Individual Family holidays, Customized Packages, Honeymoon packages, Ad-hoc Groups and MICE movement in India and abroad. They have created a commanding position in the market for cruises round the globe and facilitating Rail Europe packages.
 
Their tag line, “A world of difference”, is focused on providing a never before experience which is also borne by 99.9% satisfied clients and a substantial percentage of repeats. A leader in innovation, cost optimization and delivery to its diverse customer base are its core strengths.