Apple Vacations Buys Caribbean-Oriented Tour Operator Headquartered in Boston

Apple Vacations purchased GWV Vacations, a Boston-based vacation packager that specializes in Cancun, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Antigua and St. Maarten.

The acquisition, effective since December 18, will pave the way for Apple to begin talks on bookings for travel from December 23. The move will give Apple increased presence in New England.

“GWV is the biggest (Caribbean operator) in New England,” said Tim Mullen, Apple’s senior vice president. “It’s a regional operator but has a significant presence in Boston. It’s a market Apple has had its eyes on for a long time.”

GWV Vacations will continue to operate under the same name with an added tag line, “an Apple Vacations company.”

Apple will keep key salespeople in place, though “there may be some synergies in the back office,” according to Mullen. “From the travel agent’s perspective, our objective is to keep everything the same: the major policies and the faces of GWV that they’ve grown to know.”

Mullen said Apple will augment the GWV product line, which has primarily consisted of charters with scheduled air options as well as ski and Europe programs.