Island Escapes acquired by UK-based holiday letting company

Hopes move will boost tourism to the Isle of Man

A Manx holiday lettings agency, which manages over 150 properties across the Island, has been acquired by a UK company.  

Island Escapes is joining the Sapphire Holidays Ltd family of brands.

It will continue to operate from its Castletown base, and all staff will stay with the company.

Manx Radio has been speaking to Island Escapes Commercial Director John Keggin and Chairman of Sapphire Holidays Ltd Simon Tregoning:

Island Escapes says: 'Sapphire Holidays Ltd is best known for its brands Classic Cottages, Aspects Holidays, Boutique Retreats and Unique Hideaways. 

'The company started life under the Classic Cottages brand in 1977 by the same family that owns the business today.

'With a head office in Cornwall and with over 2500 properties managed across the group, Sapphire Holidays is a widely respected holiday letting specialist.'

Tourism

The acquisition also means, in the coming months, Island Escapes properties will start to be marketed through Classic Cottages, described as 'a highly trusted and well established brand with a loyal customer base'.

With the company reportedly planning to 'significantly invest' in the Isle of Man and in marketing their properties to new visitors, it's hoped this will strengthen the 'reach' of the Manx properties and ultimately boost the tourism figures - aligning, Island Escapes says, with the Isle of Man Government’s strategy to increase visitor numbers to 500,000 by 2032.

Deborah Heather, Chief Executive Officer for Visit Isle of Man, gave her reaction:

With Race Week of the Isle of Man TT well underway, it's a timely announcement, because Island Escapes is also the sister company of Homestay IOM Ltd, which manages the additional accommodation requirement for the TT and Manx Grand Prix on behalf of the Department for Enterprise.