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New Zealand-based tourism and transport company Entrada Travel Group has expanded its Australian presence through the acquisition of passenger bus company Greyhound Australia.
The acquisition builds on the family-owned company’s existing InterCity bus network, which is New Zealand’s largest land-based passenger transport operator.
It also follows a steady rebuilding of the Greyhound Australia business after it was hit by interstate travel restrictions during the pandemic.
Entrada Travel Group CEO John Thorburn describes Greyhound Australia as a natural addition to the company’s growing transport network portfolio with plans to build on the Aussie company’s recent growth.
“Entrada is excited by the opportunity to bring the iconic and well-respected Greyhound brand into the family,” Thorburn says.
“Entrada’s skills and experience are highly complementary to Greyhound and we see opportunities to further invest in and enhance the business while respecting the rich history of the brand.
“We aim to build on Greyhound Australia’s reputation as one of the oldest and most famous coach and freight transport network providers in the world and take the business to new heights.”
Greyhound says there will be a seamless transition of ownership with existing bookings on Greyhound Australia’s journeys to be honoured while services and timetables will continue as planned. The company confirms that all staff will be retained along with the Greyhound Australia brand.
“We're enthusiastic about this new journey with Entrada Travel Group and joining a family-owned business with deep roots in the coaching industry," says Greyhound Australia CEO Dan Smith.
“Entrada’s vision of growth and innovation in travel and tourism across New Zealand and Australia means they’re the perfect fit for Greyhound, with their experience and connections opening up new opportunities.
“The new ownership comes at an exciting period of growth for Greyhound Australia, the country’s only national coach operator, after we successfully rebuilt the business following the pandemic.”
The rebound in business has led Greyhound Australia to invest $3 million to build five new coaches to add to its existing fleet, with the first of these to be rolled out in March next year.
“As part of our business strategy, we plan to complement this investment with a significant expansion of the fleet replacement program over the next five years,” Thorburn says.
“Building on the momentum the team has established coming out of the pandemic, we’re going to be firmly focused on enhancing customer comfort and lowering emissions with modern and efficient vehicles.”
Entrada estimates that following the acquisition it will carry more than 3.5 million passengers annually, including domestic and international passengers, through its bus transport and tourism operations.
Entrada's current Australian operations include Tusa Reef Tours, Divers Den and Frankland Islands, as well as the Daintree River vehicle ferry. The company recently won a competitive tender to build and operate two large new vehicle ferries in Noosa.
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