FOLLOWING its acquisition of Gullivers Travel Associates (GTA) in May (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 6) and as the final component of a three-year investment and cost-reduction initiative, the Kuoni Group will have an updated corporate structure starting next month.
The revamp sees various business units grouped according to their business models, activities, geographical spread, growth prospects, customer portfolios and management requirements.
The three prime divisions in the structure will be Outbound Europe (European tour operations), Global Travel Services (B2B FIT & group travel as well as MICE), and Emerging Markets & Specialists (tour operations in emerging markets, specialist outbound and inbound operators worldwide, and VFS Global).
Led by Stefan Leser, Division Emerging Markets & Specialists will accommodate Kuoni’s tour operating activities in Asia (India, China and Hong Kong), Russia and the visa facilitation services of VFS Global, as well as its portfolio of autonomous specialist outbound travel brands and specialist inbound destination management service providers (Asian Trails, Desert Adventures Tourism, Private Safaris, AlliedTPro, Sita, Distant Frontiers and Australian Tours Management).
The integration of GTA into the existing activities of Kuoni Destination Management creates Division Global Travel Services, led by Rolf Schafroth. The new division consists of Kuoni’s core B2B business from online FITs, group leisure travel and MICE.
Division Outbound Europe, led by Leif Vase Larsen, will be home to all of Kuoni’s European tour operating activities in the premium travel and package tour segments, plus its Scandinavia-based airline Novair, and the Playitas sports and leisure resort on Fuerteventura. A new dedicated pan-European online business unit within the division will manage the group’s websites in direct B2C customer contact.
Moving ahead with the new structure, Kuoni will focus on expanding activities in Asia, the sustainable development of its European tour operations, the integration of GTA, and expanding existing and creating new growth areas.
