Salt Lake City — Morris Murdock and Columbus Travel announced a merger agreement to strengthen and enhance travel programs and opportunities available to the traveling public.  The combined company will be the largest seller of leisure, vacation, cruise, escorted tours, meetings and incentive travel in Utah and the intermountain area.

Morris Murdock and Columbus Travel are well known travel companies in the intermountain area. Both Morris Murdock and Columbus offer strong vacation and family travel and escorted tours to domestic and international destinations.  Additionally, Morris Murdock operates Black Pearl Luxury Services.  Morris Meetings & Incentives (MMI), a division of Morris Murdock Travel, enjoys a national and international presence for incentive, award, and meeting travel.  The incentive travel departments of MMI and Columbus will be combined.

Morris Murdock president, Brian Hollien, commented on the merger, “We are excited to combine the strengths of both companies and offer the traveling public and companies increased value and more destinations and travel options.”  Hollien will serve as president of the combined travel company.  Mark Faldmo, president of Columbus Travel, echoed Hollien’s statement, “We have always had a great respect for Morris Murdock Travel and are looking forward to combining the strengths of both companies to enhance the travel experience of our clients.”

Morris Murdock Travel Utah offices include Salt Lake City, Draper, Provo/Orem, St. George, and Ogden, in addition to Billings, MT.  Columbus Travel is headquartered in Bountiful, Utah.  The annual gross bookings for Columbus Travel, Morris Murdock and its affiliates with locations in Florida and Arizona, were in excess of $170 million in 2019.

Hollien commented on why two highly successful companies decided to merge, “Our merger is motivated by opportunity.  Combining the talent and knowledge of our travel experts with the increased buying power we will have with vendors and travel suppliers, will create new and exciting travel opportunities and better value for our customers and employees alike.”

Columbus Travel CEO, Larry Gelwix, best known as the “Getaway Guru” and host of the syndicated “Travel Show” radio broadcast, commented on the merger, “Travel is coming back strong. Combining the strengths and buying power of Morris Murdock and Columbus is a big win for travelers.  Travelers will see more travel options, greater value, and more special pricing, deals and opportunities.”  Gelwix and Faldmo will serve as officers with the combined company.

Both companies will continue to operate for the time being under their own names.  The merger is expected to be completed later this year.  For information on Morris Murdock, see: www.morrismurdock.com.  For information on Columbus Travel, see: www.columbusvacations.com.