Cheltenham travel company Red Savannah has acquired Homebase Abroad, a U.S. based company specialising in luxury villa rentals in Italy.

Offering luxury private villa experiences and tailor-made journeys around the world, Homebase Abroad is Red Savannah's first acquisition. The business said it will expand its extensive U.S. client network, as well as enhancing its portfolio of Italian villa properties.

"We have looked at several opportunities over recent years, but Homebase Abroad was the first business we felt was properly aligned from both a philosophical and demographic standpoint," said George Morgan-Grenville, Red Savannah's CEO and founder.

"We are very excited about this acquisition which offers stunning new villa options in Italy to our own clients, and a vastly expanded portfolio of luxury villas, gulet holidays and tailor-made journeys to Homebase Abroad's clients."

He added that the experienced team at Homebase Abroad, headquartered in Boston, MA, will continue to oversee all villa vacations booked for 2021. But at the start of 2022, all Homebase Abroad bookings will transition to Red Savannah with Homebase's founder and director, Mara Solomon, remaining closely involved as a Red Savannah ambassador.

Ms Solomon, who founded Homebase Abroad in 1995, has been named in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Villa Specialist list, and the company has landed on Travel +Leisure's annual list of "Best Villa Rental Agencies" six times and Town & Country's "Best Villa Rental Agencies" List.

She said: "We have had a thrilling 26 years of being a leader in setting standards for villa travel in Italy focused on ensuring our guests have the best vacation of their lives. We are delighted Red Savannah has honoured our success by acquiring our company.

"Our clients will benefit from Red Savannah's expertise not only in Italy, but also in the most desirable villa destinations worldwide."

Additional terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.