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Direct Travel, A Portfolio Company of Silver Oak Services Partners, Completes Add-on Acquisition
Apr. 02, 2015 -Portfolio Company NewsDirect Travel, Inc. (“Direct Travel”), a portfolio company of Silver Oak Service Partners LLC, announced that is has acquired Creative Group, a meeting and incentive management company.
Creative Group, Inc. is a full-service performance improvement company focused on meeting and event management, group incentive travel and individual recognition solutions. The company’s offerings comprise performance strategies, including employee recognition, sales incentives and customer loyalty; travel buying and procurement; event branding and marketing; meeting logistics and program execution; development of success metrics and strategic meetings management strategies; and product launches. Employing nearly 150, Creative Group is headquartered in in Appleton, Wisconsin, with offices in Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. With sales volume totaling $126 million, Creative Group is ranked in the top 10 meeting and incentive companies in the US, and in the CMI 25; MeetingsNet’s 25 largest and most influential meeting and incentive companies. Recognized for numerous awards throughout the industry, Creative Group has earned a reputation for exceptional customer service across the nation, and enjoys client relationships that span 30+ years.
Ron Officer, CEO of Creative Group comments, “This strategic partnership allows tremendous growth for our company, and allows us to continue operating as an individual entity, while further increasing the already significant buying power we offer our clients.” Janet Traphagen, President of Creative Group adds, “For our clients, becoming part of Direct Travel reinforces our unrelenting commitment to quality, growth, exceptional service and integrity that has characterized our company and employees for over 40 years.”
“The acquisition of Creative Group is an impressive addition to our organization, and significantly strengthens our presence in the M&I niche market, supports our growth strategy, and provides further opportunity for the investment in strategic business practices across our enterprise,” said Ed Adams, CEO of Direct Travel. John Coffman, Direct Travel CFO comments, “We were drawn to Creative Group due to their position as an industry leader, their strong value proposition and impeccable reputation that characterizes their company today,” Coffman adds, “This move is a mutual win for both companies.”
Overview of Direct Travel
Direct Travel is a leading provider of outsourced corporate travel management. The Company helps clients achieve lower corporate travel spend via management of travel policy, efficient booking, and identifying cost saving opportunities with suppliers while providing employees with a better travel experience. Direct Travel has offices in 37 locations across the U.S. and is ranked among the top US corporate travel management firms.
Silver Oak and management continue to build the Direct Travel platform into a premier provider of corporate travel management services across the United States. The company has completed 11 acquisitions since its partnership with Silver Oak and continues to pursue add-on acquisitions of complementary businesses in attractive geographies.
Please contact Ed Adams of Direct Travel or Dan Gill or Andrew Gustafson of Silver Oak for additional information.
Silver Oak invests in business, consumer and healthcare services companies in the lower middle market, typically with EBITDA of $3 million to $20 million.
Silver Oak Services Partners, LLC
1560 Sherman Ave, Suite 1200
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847-332-0400