Ensemble Travel Group shareholders have voted in favour of the previously announced Navigatr acquisition, with the deal now expected to close by month-end.

The deal sees Navigatr, parent company of Kensington Tours, TripArc, and Travel Edge, acquire Ensemble, a collective of more than 600 independently-owned travel agencies in Canada and the U.S.

Based in Toronto, Navigatr was founded by Travel Edge CEO and Founder Jeff Willner in 2018. Its president is John Hiscock, former general counsel to Kensington Tours, Travel Edge, and TripArc.

“We are very pleased that the shareholders saw the myriad opportunities this deal offered for them from access to new technology and resources to the ability to streamline supplier contracts and programs,” said Ensemble CEO David Harris.

The Canadian will now assume the role of Chairman for Ensemble Travel Group. A press statement says Ensemble will remain a standalone entity within Navigatr group, with Michael Johnson, who was named president of Travel Edge in January 2021, taking on the president role at Ensemble.

“Among the many benefits is that Ensemble members will be able to transact as they have always done, but with access to additional revolutionary travel platforms such as ADX, which offers agents instant commission visibility, one-click insurance, and more to improve efficiencies and earnings," Harris added.

“As I have come to know the Ensemble team and members over the past several months, I am more confident than ever of the value that this new consortium model represents,” added Johnson.

“It’s been very gratifying to hear from members about their excitement at the additional opportunities and resources that will be available to them to grow and enhance their businesses. The new Ensemble is truly poised for significant network growth to deliver for all of our stakeholders."