Which holiday company did Dragon's Den investor Deborah Meaden buy in 1999?

Dragon's Den investor Deborah Meaden bought Weststar Holidays in 1999.

Weststar Holidays was a holiday and leisure business acquired by Meaden as part of her entrepreneurial career before and alongside her television work. The deal helped establish her reputation as a business operator with experience in consumer services and leisure.

Meaden later became one of the best-known investors on the BBC programme. Her approach on Dragon’s Den is often associated with careful attention to financial figures, ownership percentages and whether a business can grow beyond its founder.

The company can be confused with businesses linked to other Dragons because the panel members have each built portfolios across different industries. Ryman is associated with Theo Paphitis, Bannatyne Group with Duncan Bannatyne, and Phones International Group with Peter Jones. Weststar Holidays is the company connected with Meaden’s 1999 purchase.