TUI Group has experienced remarkable growth across its Markets + Airline division, as well as its Hotels & Resorts, Cruises, and Experiences businesses over the past two years. This expansion has been fueled by strategic investments not only in unique hotel and cruise offerings but also in cutting-edge IT platforms. These platforms, focused on sourcing, sales, production, and pricing, have laid the groundwork for TUI’s next phase of growth. To capitalize on this momentum, the company is evolving into a Global Curated Leisure Marketplace, positioning itself for future success.

Looking ahead, TUI plans to broaden its product offerings by incorporating more third-party options alongside its successful core range. The company will expand its traditional package deals with dynamic packages and single components, enhancing customer choice. Moreover, TUI aims to deliver more personalized experiences, boost ancillary services, and maintain the exceptional service that customers have come to expect. The Group’s successful retail and online direct channels will be central to its growth strategy.

To maximize its potential, TUI is realigning its Markets + Airline division to better align with its strategic goals. The new structure will focus on three key areas to drive efficiency and profitability. First, TUI will introduce an integrated functional marketplace for its tour operator business, enabling rapid global scalability. Second, a dedicated unit for expansion businesses will be established to explore new product categories and markets. Third, TUI will enhance its commercial operations within its airline sector, positioning itself for even greater success in the future.

Sebastian Ebel, TUI Group CEO: “We have reported double-digit growth for the eighth consecutive quarter in underlying EBIT in August. This demonstrates the strength of our business strategy. We will accelerate our growth plans and are therefore now taking the next step in our transformation. Markets + Airline plays a key role in this: In addition to being a successful package tour operator with a strong brand, we will offer a growing portfolio of products, services and destinations. The aim is to sell more products to more customers globally throughout the whole year. The Markets + Airline transformation will help us to grow our TUI smile globally.”

TUI is advancing its transformation into a Global Curated Leisure Marketplace with a new organizational structure for its Markets + Airline division. The key functions of Commercial and Marketing will now be integrated across regions, streamlining operations and optimizing resources. Stefan Baumert, a long-standing TUI executive, has been appointed as the new Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing product development, sourcing, and trading tools. Marketing will also be centrally managed, with the appointment of a new leader to be announced soon.

In this new structure, regional teams will focus on meeting local customer needs, managing flight capacity, trading, distribution, and local marketing efforts. Each region will have its own Managing Director, responsible for driving performance and reporting directly to David Schelp, CEO of Markets + Airline. Arjan Kers will lead the Belgium and Netherlands (BeNe) region, Benjamin Jacobi will oversee Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (GAS), Jessica Enbacka will head the Nordics, and Neil Swanson will take charge of the UK & Ireland, succeeding Andrew Flintham, who is departing after a distinguished career at TUI. Each region will maintain its own profit and loss accountability, ensuring a localized approach within the global structure.

Expansion Businesses to Accelerate Growth

To drive growth beyond its existing portfolio, TUI is launching an “Expansion Businesses” unit. This unit, led by Managing Director Mircea Tudose, will function as an incubator for new ventures, focusing on the roll-out of new product platforms, attracting new customer segments, and entering untapped source markets. Tudose will report directly to David Schelp, ensuring that the unit has a strong strategic connection to the broader group goals.

TUI Airline Expands Commercial Operations

As the airline industry evolves with increased capacity and a shift toward leisure travel, TUI Airline is set to expand its commercial operations. Under the continued leadership of CEO Marco Ciomperlik, the airline will enhance its commercial setup, seizing growth opportunities while aligning closely with regional needs. This approach will ensure that TUI Airline remains competitive and contributes significantly to the Group’s broader growth objectives.

All organizational changes will come into effect on October 1, 2024, positioning TUI for continued growth and innovation in the dynamic travel and tourism industry.

David Schelp, CEO Markets + Airline: “As the market environment and customer demand are changing, we now will accelerate our transformation to ensure that we deliver our ambitious growth targets. The new organisation will establish clear accountabilities and allow for scalability, more agility and maximisation of our opportunities in the global tourism market. Customers will be able to book more flexibly and choose from an even wider product range. The integrated business model with Holiday Experiences – which includes Hotels & Resorts, Cruises and Activities – and Markets + Airline will further unlock significant value for our shareholders. The transformation will support in delivering our growth ambitions and together with my new leadership team, I look forward to accelerating the transformation and successfully implementing the new set-up.”

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