Cash services and payments specialist Fexco announced yesterday that it has bought the remaining 26 per cent in its online reservations business, Gulliver Ireland, from the State tourist agencies.
Gulliver operates the national online booking system which allows tourists to book accommodation throughout Ireland. It provides access to over 9,000 linked properties, which account for over 60 per cent of approved accommodation in the 32 counties.
Killorglin, Co Kerry-based Fexco bought 74 per cent of Gulliver InfoRes Services Ltd in 1997. Since then, it has invested over €3 million in the business on web development and the purchase of the Go Ireland website.
It has bought the remaining 26 per cent from All Ireland Tourism Holdings, a company owned by Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. It did not reveal the purchase price.
Fexco is positioning itself in travel and leisure-based e-commerce. In May, the company bought Online Teetimes Ltd, a Wicklow-based operation that sells green fees to golfers. In January it bought the Gift Voucher Shop Ltd, the country's leading supplier of gift vouchers.
Gulliver reported yesterday it sold 410,000 bed nights in the first half of the year.
