Northbound Travel Acquires BBI Travel to Expand Nordic and Northwest Europe Reach

Northbound Travel, the parent company of leading travel brands Buro Scanbrit, Voigt Travel, and Scandinavian Wintersports, has completed the acquisition of BBI Travel, a specialist tour operator focused on Scandinavia, Northwest Europe, and Canada. The deal, announced on May 8, 2026, marks a strategic step to strengthen Northbound Travel’s leadership in the Nordic travel market and expand its geographic reach, particularly in the Northern Netherlands.

BBI Travel will continue to operate as an independent and recognizable brand within Northbound Travel’s portfolio. Founded in 1963 and based at Groningen Airport Eelde, BBI Travel brings over 60 years of expertise in destinations including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, and Ireland. The company offers comprehensive travel packages encompassing flights, accommodations, transport, and excursions, with a strong emphasis on personalized service and deep destination knowledge.

Marloes Meijer, Managing Director of Northbound Travel, highlights the mutual benefits of the acquisition: “The acquisition strengthens both parties. BBI Travel gains access to Northbound Travel’s scale, technological infrastructure, purchasing power, and revenue management capabilities. Simultaneously, Northbound Travel benefits from BBI’s strong presence in Northern Netherlands and its strategic position around Groningen Airport Eelde.”

Northbound Travel operates primarily from Naarden, offering flights mainly from Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The addition of BBI Travel’s departure network from Groningen Airport Eelde creates complementary regional coverage, opening new growth opportunities for both organizations. Both companies share a similar corporate culture focused on tour operator craftsmanship, motivated teams, extensive destination expertise, and a commitment to quality.

Henk van der Kooi, Director of BBI Travel, expressed optimism about the partnership: “Joining Northbound Travel allows us to maintain the BBI Travel DNA while benefiting from clear synergies. We look forward to deepening collaboration with our new colleagues and realizing our long-term ambitions.”

Cees van den Bosch, responsible for acquisitions and vertical integration at Northbound Travel, added, “We are building a strong group of specialized travel brands and dedicated teams that complement each other while preserving their unique identities. This supports our strategy of vertical integration in key destinations such as Finnish Lapland.”

Northbound Travel’s portfolio includes Buro Scanbrit, a specialist in Northwest Europe catering to adventurous travelers and families; Voigt Travel, focused on premium winter sports trips to Scandinavia; and Scandinavian Wintersports, offering authentic experiences in Lapland with own charter flights. The group also owns Finnish Lapland Boutique Resorts, a collection of unique accommodations and safari operators.

BBI Travel’s acquisition enhances Northbound Travel’s destination portfolio by adding Canada and Ireland alongside its Nordic focus. The combined entity expects to leverage cross-selling opportunities across complementary departure airports and optimize operational efficiencies through shared technology platforms and purchasing power.

Industry experts note that this acquisition accelerates consolidation in the Nordic and Northwest European travel markets, increasing competitive pressure on other operators. Northbound Travel’s expanded network and enhanced product offerings position it well to capture growing demand for specialized, high-quality travel experiences in these regions.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The integration will focus on maintaining BBI Travel’s brand independence while aligning operational systems and leveraging synergies. Both companies anticipate regulatory approvals to proceed smoothly, with integration efforts aimed at sustainable growth and enhanced customer value.

Looking ahead, Northbound Travel plans to deepen collaboration across its brands, expand its geographic footprint, and continue investing in technology and product innovation to meet evolving traveler preferences.