ESNA HOLIDAYS STRENGTHENS MARKET POSITION WITH STRATEGIC ACQUISITION OF MACKINNONS TRAVELS.
From right to left: Gihan Cooray, Deputy Chairperson/Group Finance Director of John Keells Holdings; Eshana De Silva, Chairman of Esna Group; and Johnson Francis, Managing Director of Esna Holidays.
By: Rishini Weeraratne
Esna Holidays has strengthened its position in Sri Lanka's travel and tourism industry with the strategic acquisition of Mackinnons Travels from John Keells Holdings PLC, marking an important milestone in the company's long-term growth and expansion strategy. The acquisition brings one of Sri Lanka's longest-established travel management companies under the ownership of Esna Group, further strengthening its presence in the travel sector and creating opportunities to expand its market share across inbound tourism, outbound travel and corporate travel management. With a heritage spanning 55 years, Mackinnons Travels is recognised as one of Sri Lanka's most respected travel management companies, having built a reputation for professionalism, reliability and quality service. Its established corporate clientele, industry relationships and expertise in travel management make it a strategic addition to Esna Holidays' growing business portfolio.
Commenting on the acquisition, Eshana De Silva, Chairman of Esna Holidays and Mackinnons Travels, highlighted the importance of strategic acquisitions in driving the group's future growth. "The acquisition of Mackinnons Travels is a strategic step towards increasing our market share. Through targeted acquisitions, we aim to strengthen our position across inbound, outbound and corporate travel," he said.
The move reflects Esna Holidays' focus on expanding its business through carefully selected acquisitions that complement its existing operations, broaden its service capabilities and reinforce its competitive position in Sri Lanka's evolving travel industry.
Johnson Francis, Managing Director of Esna Holidays and Mackinnons Travels, emphasised the value of bringing an established and respected travel brand into the group. "Mackinnons Travels has a strong name and a long history in the industry. Bringing it into our business gives us a stronger presence in outbound and corporate travel. We see acquisitions like this as an important way to grow our market share," he stated.
An important strength of Mackinnons Travels is its longstanding international affiliation with American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT). The company serves as the Travel Network Partner (franchise partner) of Amex GBT in Sri Lanka, continuing a relationship that dates back to 1979, when Mackinnons became the local representative of American Express Travel. This association, together with Mackinnons Travels' extensive experience in corporate and leisure travel, adds further depth to Esna Holidays' capabilities and strengthens its position in the travel management segment. The acquisition also represents a significant new chapter for Mackinnons Travels as it transitions from the John Keells Group to Esna Group, a diversified group of companies. Its longstanding heritage established market presence and recognised brand identity are expected to complement Esna Holidays' ambitions for continued growth. As Sri Lanka's travel and tourism industry continues to evolve, Esna Holidays is positioning itself to capitalise on emerging opportunities through strategic investments and acquisitions, with a focus on developing a stronger and more diversified presence across key travel segments. The addition of Mackinnons Travels to the Esna Group portfolio marks a significant step in this journey, bringing together established industry experience, recognised brands and complementary business strengths to support the group's long-term growth ambitions.
