Hays has acquired the online travel company in a huge new deal which will see Victoria’s chief executive Chris Gardner remain in his role.

UK managing director Tony Andrews, German managing director Tom Reiter and group chief financial officer Carl Tromans will also keep their positions in the company.

Hays Travel Dame Irene Hays told Ttg Media: “We have been hugely impressed by the strength of the Victoria Travel Group.

“Their innovative approach to online cruise retailing and the calibre of their management team make Victoria Travel a compelling addition to our business, which aligns with our cruise strategy and growth ambitions.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris, Carl, Tony and Tom to our Hays Travel group; they share our values and are all exceptional at what they do.

“We look forward to working alongside them, exploring opportunities and learning from each other as we seek to continuously improve the choice, experience and value we offer our customers.”

Chris said: “We're delighted to be joining the Hays Travel family. Their values, customer-first approach, and long-term vision align with ours.

“This partnership opens up exciting opportunities to grow our brands and deliver even more value to cruise customers in the UK and internationally.”

The new deal is Hays’ first online travel agency acquisition and includes the Seascanner business along with German Kreuzfahrtberater.de.