Hornblower Group acquires ShoreTrips

ShoreTrips joins Hornblower’s growing portfolio of land-based experience companies, which includes Shore Excursions of America and the UK's Cruising Excursions. ShoreTrips broadens Hornblower's total footprint to 111 countries and territories worldwide.

Milwaukee-based travel advisors Barry and Julie Karp launched ShoreTrips in 2001 as an alternative to cruise line-organized excursions. The company grew into one of the US's largest independent providers of commissionable land and sea experiences, offering more than 3,000 excursions in 400 port locations.

A Hornblower release indicated the Karps and core staff members will continue to be involved.

Reported $1.8m deal

According to extensive reporting by Travel Weekly, Hornblower won a court-monitored bid to buy ShoreTrips' assets for $1.8m, free and clear of responsibility for debts that included nearly $5m in customer payments for canceled trips.

Citing court filings, Travel Weekly said that after secured debts and other guaranteed payments are settled, that leaves just over $1.4m to divide among customers owed $4.7m in refunds and other unsecured creditors who are out just under $1m.