Last Minute Cottages Ownership Timeline
Last Minute Cottages Ownership Timeline
Explore the evolution of Last Minute Cottages ownership over the past decade and how it has impacted travelers
What This Means for Travelers
The ownership changes haven't affected booking experience or policies, but they may influence:
- Inventory depth: Flight Centre's global supplier agreements mean better rates and wider property options
- Customer service: Integrated call centres and shared CRM platforms improve issue resolution
- Future product roll-outs: AI-driven pricing tools may lead to dynamic discounts and bundled offers
Quick Takeaways
- Last Minute Cottages is owned by Flight Centre Travel Group Limited.
- The brand sits under the Lastminute.com Group umbrella, which was bought by Flight Centre in 2022.
- Ownership changed hands twice in the last decade - from Sabre Holdings to a private equity firm, then to Flight Centre.
- Being part of a large travel conglomerate gives the site access to broader inventory and better pricing power.
- For travelers, the change in owners doesn’t affect booking experience, but it may influence future product roll‑outs and loyalty offers.
What is Last Minute Cottages?
When you hear the name Last Minute Cottages is an online marketplace that specializes in short‑notice bookings of holiday cottages across the UK and Ireland, you might picture a simple booking engine. In reality, the site is a branch of a larger travel group that bundles flights, hotels, and package holidays under one digital roof. The cottage‑focused portal lets travelers filter by location, pet‑friendliness, and price, delivering a very niche experience within a broader travel ecosystem.
Current Owner: Flight Centre Travel Group Limited
The name on the shareholder register today is Flight Centre Travel Group Limited - a multinational travel agency headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. The company operates under the ticker “FLT” on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and reports annual revenue of over US$15billion (FY2024). FlightCentre’s portfolio spans retail travel stores, corporate travel services, and a suite of online brands, including the European Lastminute.com Group.
FlightCentre entered the European market by acquiring the Lastminute.com Group for roughly £600million in a cash‑and‑stock deal announced in August2022. The acquisition was approved by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after a short review, confirming that the deal would not substantially lessen competition in online travel retail.
How the Ownership Chain Got Here
To understand today’s structure, it helps to trace the ownership timeline. Below is a concise look at the major players who have held the reins of Last Minute Cottages ownership over the past ten years.
| Year | Owner | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2015‑2019 | Sabre Holdings | Sabre, a US‑based travel technology firm, owned the Lastminute.com brand after a 2015 acquisition of the parent company. |
| 2019‑2022 | Mountaineer Group (private equity) | Mountaineer acquired a 25% stake in 2019 and became the majority shareholder by 2020, aiming to restructure the European OTA business. |
| 2022‑Present | Flight Centre Travel Group Limited | FlightCentre completed the purchase in December2022, integrating Lastminute.com Group into its global portfolio. |
Why the Ownership Matters to Travelers
Most people don’t care who sits behind a booking site, but the corporate parent can affect three practical areas:
- Inventory depth. FlightCentre’s global supplier agreements mean Last Minute Cottages can tap into a wider network of owners and property managers, often translating to better rates.
- Customer service. Integrated call centres and shared CRM platforms usually improve response times and issue resolution, especially for cross‑border travelers.
- Future product roll‑outs. As FlightCentre invests in AI‑driven pricing tools, we may see more dynamic discounts or bundled offers that combine cottages with flights or car hire.
None of these changes require you to create a new account or change your booking habits - the brand’s UI and policies remain the same.
Related Entities You Might Hear About
When reading news or financial reports, you’ll encounter a handful of related entities. Here’s a quick cheat‑sheet:
- Lastminute.com Group - the parent platform that hosts Last Minute Cottages, flight search, and hotel aggregation.
- Travelport - a technology provider that supplies the global distribution system (GDS) used by Lastminute.com for flight inventory.
- CottageFinder - a competitor focused exclusively on UK holiday homes.
- Booking.com - the dominant OTA that also offers cottages; often compared to Last Minute Cottages in price‑match discussions.
- UK Holiday Rental Association (UKHRA) - the trade body representing cottage owners, which influences regulatory standards that all UK cottage sites must follow.
How to Verify Ownership Yourself
If you prefer to double‑check, the simplest route is to look at the company’s registration filings:
- Visit the UK Companies House website and search for "Lastminute.com Ltd" - the filing will list FlightCentre as the ultimate parent.
- Check FlightCentre’s annual report (available on the ASX Investor Relations portal). The report includes a section titled “Our Brands” where Lastminute.com Group is listed.
- Read recent press releases from FlightCentre’s media centre - they often announce strategic moves, such as new technology roll‑outs for the cottage brand.
All three sources are free and updated quarterly, giving you a reliable snapshot of ownership at any time.
Future Outlook: What Might Change?
Industry analysts predict that large travel groups will keep consolidating to negotiate better rates with airlines and vacation‑rental owners. For Last Minute Cottages, two trends are worth watching:
- AI‑driven pricing. FlightCentre has invested heavily in machine‑learning models that predict demand spikes. If those models are applied to cottage inventory, you could see flash‑sales that undercut competitors.
- Sustainability certifications. The UKHRA is pushing for greener standards. As part of a global brand, Last Minute Cottages may adopt eco‑badge filters sooner rather than later, appealing to environmentally‑aware travelers.
Neither trend will change the basic ownership structure, but they illustrate how the parent company’s strategic priorities can ripple down to the cottage‑booking experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who exactly owns Last Minute Cottages?
The ultimate owner is Flight Centre Travel Group Limited, which bought the Lastminute.com Group - the parent of Last Minute Cottages - in 2022.
Was Last Minute Cottages ever owned by a different company?
Yes. From 2015 to 2019 it was part of Sabre Holdings. A private‑equity firm, Mountaineer Group, took a controlling stake from 2019 until FlightCentre’s purchase in 2022.
Does the change in ownership affect my bookings?
In practice, no. The website’s design, policies, and booking engine stay the same. What may change over time are promotional offers and the breadth of inventory, both of which tend to improve under a larger parent.
How can I confirm the current ownership?
Check the UK Companies House entry for "Lastminute.com Ltd" and FlightCentre’s latest annual report. Both documents list the corporate hierarchy and confirm FlightCentre as the ultimate shareholder.
Will Flight Centre sell Last Minute Cottages in the future?
There’s no public indication of a planned sale. FlightCentre’s strategy focuses on expanding its digital portfolio, so it’s more likely they’ll keep the cottage brand and possibly invest further in technology and sustainability.
