Just the ticket

The London-based Podróże TV SA is planning on becoming the largest player in the Polish travel-agency market and wants to float its shares on the Warsaw Stock Exchange within 18 months.

The firm, owned by Carlson Private Equity Ltd. Fund, wants to raise zł.17-20 million in share capital, which would enable it to take over tour operator PES Travel and travel-dedicated TV channel Telewizja Podróże. Letters of intent have already been signed.

However, the company would not limit acquisitions to these two concerns. Executives are  planning further acquisitions of traditional tour operators and reveal that talks are already in progress with one of the biggest travel agents in Poland.

Robert Niczewski from Liberty Group PR agency says: "The success of the company is going to be based on three pillars, the first one being traditional points of sale, the second, offers presented on television and third, an internet site.

"Television is going to provide very easy access to the company's offer - potential customers will be able to have a close look at a particular holiday resort before they choose to go there.

"While the average travel agent charges a 10-percent commission, Podróże TV SA will be able to limit the costs to two to four percent."

The internet wing of the company would not be started from scratch either. Podróże TV is looking for an already existing e-commerce operation to take over. With zł.20 million capital Podróże TV would become the biggest tour operator in the Polish market.

Janusz Pawłowski, Podróże TV's deputy CEO, announced the new entity signed a contract with charter airlines Fisher Air Polska, which will start operating in November with trips to the Dominican Republic.