DER Touristik Creates European Network of Travel Experts

Antitrust authorities approve acquisition of Kuoni tour operator activities

DER Touristik, the travel division of the REWE Group, is reorganising itself and is set to assume a leading role in the European travel market, an announcement said on Monday.

According to the Frankfurt-based travel group, the EU’s and Switzerland’s competition authorities have approved, without conditions, the acquisition of the entire European tour operator and travel sales business of the Swiss tourism group Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. (Zürich). The acquisition announced by the REWE Group on 22 June 2015 has now been completed.

Photo source: REWE Group

The expanded DER Touristik will have combined revenue of 7 billion euros and 7.7 million customers, with operations in the tour operator and travel sales business in 14 European countries. The transaction covers all tour operators, specialists, travel agencies and online portals in the markets of Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Benelux as well as Scandinavia/Finland – where it also includes the airline Novair and the Playitas sports resort in Fuerteventura.

In terms of structure and travel offering, DER Touristik has adopted its own particular style.

“Travel requirements are as individual as the people who travel. That’s why we believe in diversity”, said Sören Hartmann, CEO of DER Touristik Group, rejecting the idea of merging the national entities into a single company. The national entities and brands will continue to exist.

According to Hartmann, DER Touristik will create a European affiliation of very strong tourism companies.

“Sales and tour operators — as well as the specialist brands — will remain national. If you want to meet individual travel requirements, you have to be close to the customer”, emphasised Hartmann.