Tripsmiths, TS Travel sold out of administration to Travel Network Group

Tripsmiths Ltd and TS Travel Ltd, the UK specialist travel businesses behind expert-led tours tied to media brands and well-known personalities, have been sold out of administration to The Travel Network Group in a transaction designed to preserve customer bookings and keep future departures on track.

Andrew Pear and Michael Solomons of Moorfields were appointed joint administrators of the companies on 14 May. Following their appointment, the administrators completed a sale of the business and assets, with the companies now expected to operate under a new entity, Tripsmiths Travel.

Tripsmiths and TS Travel operated in the specialist escorted travel market, offering curated group holidays built around expert hosts, destination access and media partnerships. The companies sold holidays through revenue-sharing relationships with media and membership partners, including publications and brands such as The Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal.

The sale preserves the forward tour programme and avoids the disruption that often follows the insolvency of a travel operator. The purchaser has said existing bookings will be honoured, current and future tours will proceed as planned, and customer funds will continue to be protected through the Travel Trust Association. The company has more than 50 departures scheduled for 2026 and 2027, many of them built around its expert-led travel format.

Former chief executive Charles Starmer-Smith attributed the administration to the lingering impact of Covid, difficult trading conditions across the wider business, and falling search traffic and circulation among media partners. The sale to The Travel Network Group gives the business a new platform within a larger travel network, with potential access to broader trade relationships and operational support.