Internova Travel Group has announced the completion of a management buyout of luxury travel advisory In the Know Experiences (ITKE), which is already part of Global Travel Collection, the premium travel division of Internova.
“In the Know Experiences is known for designing travel experiences that are as unique as their clients, and their business complements our overall luxury travel offering within the Global Travel Collection division,” said J.D. O’Hara, chief executive officer of Internova Travel Group, in a statement. “We are proud to take full ownership of the firm as we look to continue to build our brand and reinforce our position as one of the world’s preeminent sellers of premium travel.”
As part of the transaction, the travel business of ITKE, composed of in-house and independent contractor operations of booking travel services to consumer travelers and corporate and entertainment clients, remains in Global Travel Collection.
Karen Magee will lead ITKE and report directly to Global Travel Collection president Angie Licea. ITKE founders Lia Batkin and Seth Kaplan will retain the agency’s events side of the business under a new name, which will include event production, creating and selling hospitality packages and entertainment consulting.
Batkin and Kaplan had launched ITKE in 2007 after noticing the potential for a travel and lifestyle company that catered to an aspirational demographic who demanded more from their travel experience. Internova (then called Travel Leaders Group) became a majority owner in 2016. The company has since grown as a luxury travel and lifestyle consultancy, offering unique experiences and specialized services around the world.
“It has been an incredible experience building ITKE over the last 14 years into one of the leading boutique luxury travel and lifestyle consultancies,” said Batkin. “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Internova Travel Group as they take full ownership and guide ITKE into its next chapter.”
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