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TUI Group
View on WikipediaTUI AG (trading as TUI Group) is a German multinational leisure, travel and tourism company; it is the largest such company in the world.[2][3] TUI is an acronym for Touristik Union International ("Tourism Union International"). TUI AG was known as Preussag AG until 1997, when the company changed its activities from mining to tourism. It is headquartered in Hanover, Germany,[4] and trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and Hanover Stock Exchange.
Key Information
It fully or partially owns several travel agencies, hotel chains, cruise lines and retail shops as well as five European airlines. These activities involve the operation of 353 hotels with 275,144 beds and it allows its brand to be used for another 65 hotels operated by third parties. These hotels accommodate 21 million guests a year.[5] It also operates 16 cruise ships under the TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Marella Cruises brands, as well as a fleet of 134 aircraft.[1]
History
[edit]Foundation and early years
[edit]The origins of the company lie in the industrial and transportation company Preussag AG, which was originally formed as a German mining company. It was incorporated on 9 October 1923, as Preußische Bergwerks- und Hütten-Aktiengesellschaft (Prussian Mine and Foundry Company). In 1927, it was merged with the Ruhr coal company, Hibernia AG, and electricity utility to become the Vereinigte Elektrizitäts und Bergwerks AG (VEBA AG) (United Electrical and Mining Company).[6]
After the sale of Salzgitter AG and purchase of Hapag-Lloyd AG (the navigation and logistics company) in 1997, Preussag AG became a global enterprise in the service and leisure industry. At that time, Hapag-Lloyd held a 30% interest in the tourism conglomerate TUI (founded 1968), increased to 100% by 1999. In addition, the company acquired 25% of Thomas Cook shares in 1997, which it doubled the following year. On 2 February 1999, the Carlson Leisure Group merged with Thomas Cook into a holding company owned by the German bank Westdeutsche Landesbank, Carlson Inc and Preussag.[7] However, in mid 2000, Preussag acquired Thomas Cook's rival Thomson Travel and was forced to sell its majority 50.1% stake in Thomas Cook by regulatory authorities.[8] In 2002, Preussag renamed itself TUI AG.[9]
TUI announced a merger of its travel division with the British tour operator First Choice in March 2007,[10] which was approved by the European Commission on 4 June 2007, on the condition that the merged company sell Budget Travel in Ireland.[11] TUI held a 55% stake in the new company, TUI Travel PLC, which began operations in September 2007.[12]
In April 2008, Alexey Mordashov, who purchased his first shares in TUI Travel in autumn 2007, purchased additional TUI Travel shares under S-Group in order to expand TUI Travel into Eastern Europe and Russia.[13][14][15]
Its logistics activities, concentrated in the shipping sector, were kept separate and bundled within Hapag-Lloyd AG. A majority stake in Hapag-Lloyd was sold to the Albert Ballin consortium of investors in March 2009,[16] and a further stake was sold to Ballin in February 2012, as TUI worked to exit from the shipping business and to optimize its tourism business with expansion in Russia, China and India under Michael Frenzel.[15][17] Prior to August 2010, John Fredriksen held the largest Norwegian privately held stake in TUI Travel and had a significant influence upon TUI Travel's direction and strategy.[18] As Alexey Mordashov through his S-Group Travel Holding increased his stake in TUI Travel to a stake larger than Fredriksen's stake, the shipping business had to be sold.[18]
In June 2014, the company announced it would fully merge with TUI Travel to create a united group with a value of $US9.7 billion.[19] The merger was completed on 17 December 2014 and the combined business began trading on the Frankfurt and London stock exchanges.[20] Prior to this merger, Alexey Mordashov, the largest private shareholder in TUI Travel, held a blocking stake in TUI Travel through his S-Group.[21] After the merger, Mordashov's stake was reduced to less than a blocking stake of 25%.[21] On 12 December 2016, Mordashov increased his stake in TUI Group from 18% to more than 20%.[21][22] In October 2018, his 24.9% stake was the largest privately held stake in TUI Group.[23] In June 2019, Mordashov transferred 65% of his stake to the KN-Holding, owned by his sons Kirill and Nikita Mordashov. TUI stated in a statement that they ”welcomed the second generation of the family amongst its shareholders”.[24]
Berge & Meer and Boomerang Reisen as well as Atraveo were sold to the holding company GENUI in 2019.[25] At the end of 2019, the holiday home provider Wolters Reisen GmbH and the round trip specialist Wolters Rundreisen GmbH, of which TUI Group owned 100% of the shares via an investment company, were sold to the Frankfurt-based company e-domizil.[26]
Development since 2020
[edit]In August 2020, the company reported a net loss of €2.3 billion (from October 2019 to June 2020) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of the sum, €1.5 billion loss related to the period from April to June 2020, while the revenue for the same period was €75 million, 98% less than the same period in 2019. TUI's chief executive officer, Fritz Joussen announced that the firm was considering selling the Marella cruise line.[27]
In March 2022, the company's largest single shareholder, Alexey Mordashov, a Russian oligarch and confidante of Vladimir Putin, was placed under sanctions due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[28][29][30][31]
In March 2023, it was announced that TUI would seek to raise $1.8 billion by selling shares at a discount to existing investors, excluding Mordashov as a result of sanctions under German securities law.[32][33]
Corporate affairs
[edit]Governance
[edit]The following people have served in key roles:
| Time period | Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Time period | Chairman of the Supervisory Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022- | Sebastian Ebel | 2019- | Dieter Zetsche[34] |
| 2013-2022 | Friedrich Joussen | 2011-2019 | Klaus Mangold[34] |
| 2014-2016 | Peter Long (Co-CEO)[35] | 2010-2011 | Dietmar Kuhnt[36] |
| 2004-2010 | Jürgen Krumnow[36] |
Shareholders
[edit]The company's shares are listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange, as well as the Hanover Stock Exchange.[37]
In spring 2007, the Norwegian shipowner and financial investor John Fredriksen acquired a 15.01% stake in TUI. At TUI's AGM in May 2008, Fredriksen demanded a split-up of the group and the dismissal of TUI CEO Michael Frenzel.[38] At the AGM on 13 May 2009, Fredriksen demanded that Supervisory Board Chairman Jürgen Krumnow be voted out of office so that he could then join the Supervisory Board himself. However, these attempts were unsuccessful.[39] On 28 February 2014, Monteray Enterprises Ltd (John Fredriksen) notified TUI that its share of voting rights in TUI had fallen below the 3% thresholds on 24 February 2014.[40]
Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov joined TUI at the beginning of 2008. By July 2008, he had increased his stake to 15.03% and in March 2012 to 25.29%, and later to 34%.[41] He was thus the largest single shareholder.[42] Mordashov has been on the EU sanctions list since 28 February 2022 and, according to a corresponding voting rights notification, transferred control of most of his indirectly held shares to the Virgin Islands-based company Ondero Limited, controlled by Marina Mordashova, on that date. Due to an investigation by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection regarding the transfer of the shares to Ondero Limited, the transfer is suspended.[43] The shareholding in TUI AG therefore continues to be held (indirectly) by Mordashov. Due to the capital increase in spring 2023, in which Mordashov was not allowed to participate due to his sanction,[44] his shareholding has meanwhile decreased significantly. According to the voting rights notifications of the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of 16 May 2023, 10.87% shares in TUI AG have been indirectly attributable to Mordashov since 19 April 2023, while Marina Mordashowa holds 0% in TUI AG.[45]
In February 2024, the company decided to leave the London Stock Exchange retaining its listings on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the Hanover Stock Exchange.[46]
| Shareholder | Share |
|---|---|
| Institutional investors | 57.8 % |
| Alexei Mordashov | 10.9 % |
| Private investors | 30.2 % |
| RIU S.A. (Familie Riu Güell) | 1.1 % |
Business figures
[edit]The key indicators of the TUI Group are (as at the financial year ending 30 September):[47][48]
| Year | Revenue (€bn) | Net Profit (€m) | Number of employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 17.1 | 910 | 66,779 |
| 2017 | 18.5 | 645 | 66,577 |
| 2018 | 19.5 | 733 | 69,546 |
| 2019 | 18.9 | 416 | 71,473 |
| 2020 | 7.9 | –3,148 | 48,330 |
| 2021 | 4.7 | –2,467 | 50,584 |
| 2022 | 16.5 | –277 | 61,091 |
| 2023 | 20.6 | 306 | 65,413 |
| 2024 | 23.2 | 507 | 66,845 |
Operations
[edit]Accommodation
[edit]In the 2022 financial year, the Hotels & Resorts segment comprised a total of 353 hotels with 275,144 beds. With 322 properties, the majority are four- or five-star hotels. 53% were operated under management contracts, 38% were owned by the respective hotel company, 8% were leased and 1% of the facilities were operated under franchise agreements. In addition, 65 hotels were operated by third-party hoteliers under TUI's international concept brands as at 30 September 2022, bringing the total number including third-party hotels to 418.[1]
Cruises
[edit]TUI's cruise segment operates a total of 16 cruise ships under three brands:
- TUI Cruises is a joint venture with Royal Caribbean Cruises. The fleet currently comprises seven ships named Mein Schiff 1 to 7.[49]
- Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is responsible for luxury and expedition cruises in German-speaking countries. The brand was transferred to TUI Cruises in 2020.[50][51] With the MS Europa and the MS Europa 2, the group offers luxury cruises; the two ships were the only cruise ships worldwide to be awarded the 5-star-plus category by the Berlitz Cruise Guide. HEANSEATIC class expedition ships include the HANSEATIC nature, the HANSEATIC inspiration and the HANSEATIC spirit.[52]
- Marella Cruises offers cruises with four ships, primarily in the UK market.[49]
Airlines
[edit]TUI owns several airlines operating under the brands TUI fly and TUI Airways which are managed by TUI Airline Management.
| Airline | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|
| TUI Airways | TUI Airways is the largest of the TUI airlines. It has 70 aircraft and flies from 26 British airports to 109 destinations worldwide. It was formed by the merger of Thomsonfly (formerly Britannia Airways) and First Choice Airways (formerly Air 2000). The airline was the last TUI airline to be rebranded. | |
| TUI fly Belgium | TUI fly Belgium has operated since March 2004 to more than 105 destinations around Europe, the Red Sea, the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, the US and Africa. Since 2012, it has operated scheduled flights as well as charter services. It was formerly known as Jetairfly, and renamed TUI fly Belgium in late 2016. | |
| TUI fly Deutschland | TUI fly Deutschland has operated since 1972, originally as Hapag-Lloyd Flug, becoming TUIfly in 2007. It was later renamed TUI fly Deutschland, and it has 40 aircraft, flying to 39 destinations. | |
| TUI fly Netherlands | Since 2005, TUI fly Netherlands has operated charter flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to destinations in Southern Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. It was originally called Arkefly and later became Arke in 2013, before being renamed TUI fly Netherlands in 2015. | |
| TUI fly Nordic | TUI fly Nordic flies from locations across Europe. They fly holidaymakers travelling with the following tour operators; TUI Sverige (Sweden), TUI Finland (Finland), TUI Norge (Norway), and TUI Danmark (Denmark). There was a slight name change, from TUIfly Nordic to TUI fly Nordic. |
Controversies
[edit]- On 16 April 2009, TUI Travel and S-Group Travel Holding of the Russian shareholder Alexey Mordashov declared the formation of a joint venture in Russia with investments of 30 million euros to develop tourism activities in Russia and Ukraine. The intention was to take over the tour operators VKO Group and Mostravel in Russia and Voyage Kiev in Ukraine, which had over 160 travel agencies and over half a million customers.[53] In March 2022, TUI AG terminated the brand use agreement with TUI Russia; TUI Russia is no longer a TUI Group company. The last shares in TUI Russia were sold in 2021.[54] In May 2022, it was reported that the major stakeholder and Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov had made a transfer of a holding of 29.9% of the company: TUI failed to follow the rules and verify the new owner of the shares. In addition, the transfer was a violation of the sanctions against Russia by the European Union, which sanctioned Mordashov personally.[55][56]
- A 2018 study in the UK found that TUI had the largest gender pay gap reported to date by a major UK company, with its male employees paid more than twice what female employees are paid.[57]
- TUI has become the main airline carrying out charter deportation flights for the UK Home Office.[58] It is estimated that in November and December 2020 TUI carried out the deportation of more than 150 people in 13 flights to 23 destinations for the Home Office.[59]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Annual Report 2024" (PDF). TUI. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ TUI forges World's biggest tourism operator. TUI AG. Retrieved on 29 October 2014.
- ^ "Die 10 Grossten Reiseveranstalter der welt". Ten of the Day. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Contact TUI Group." TUI AG. Retrieved on 29 May 2009.
- ^ "About TUI Group". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "History". Preussen Elektra. Retrieved 14 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "WESTDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK / CARLSON / THOMAS COOK (Merger) [1999] ECComm 26 (8 March 1999)". www.worldlii.org. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
- ^ "German firm buys Thomas Cook". BBC. 7 December 2000. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
- ^ Leadbeater, Chris (18 October 2017). "Goodbye Thomson, hello TUI – how Germany beat Britain in the battle of the sunlounge". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "First Choice to tie up with TUI". BBC News. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "First Choice-TUI merger cleared". BBC News. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ Walsh, Fiona (19 March 2007). "Thomson and First Choice to merge". The Guardian.
- ^ "TUI gründet mit Mordaschow Reisetochter in Russland Touristikkonzern und Oligarch vertiefen Partnerschaft" [TUI establishes a subsidiary in Russia with Mordashov. Touristkonzern and Oligarch deepen partnership.]. Financial Times Deutschland (in German). 11 April 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ Heitmann, Jens (30 August 2010). "Alexej Mordaschow baut Einfluss bei TUI aus" [Alexei Mordashov is extending his influence at TUI]. Göttinger Tageblatt (in German). Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Russischer Investor baut Einfluss bei TUI aus" [Russian investor is extending his influence at TUI]. Der Spiegel (in German). 31 January 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ Kuehnen, Eva (23 March 2009). "TUI AG completes sale of Hapag-Lloyd unit". Reuters. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ "TUI AG set to agree Hapag-Lloyd deal this week". Chicago Tribune. 12 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Wnuck, Corinna (30 August 2010). "Tui-Großaktionär stockt Anteil auf" [Tui major shareholder increases stake]. Finance (in German). Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Tui Travel agrees to merger with German majority stakeholder". International Travel News. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ Young, Sarah (17 December 2014). "TUI Travel, TUI AG merger completes". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
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- ^ "Алексей Мордашов приблизил свою долю в TUI к блокирующему пакету" [Alexey Mordashov brought his stake in TUI closer to the blocking stake]. RBC (in Russian). 10 January 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Shareholder structure". TUI Group. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Change in the shareholder structure of TUI AG". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
- ^ "TUI Group to sell German specialist tour operators "Berge & Meer" and "Boomerang Reisen" / Group sharpens its profile". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI Group sells German holiday home provider Wolters Reisen". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ Hancock, Alice (13 August 2020). "Tour operator Tui considers disposals after racking up €2.3bn loss". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ Partridge, Joanna (2022-03-02). "Alexei Mordashov: Russia's richest man is now an EU sanctions target". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ^ Welle, Deutsche. "The Russian oligarchs of the FinCEN Files | DW | 26.09.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ^ Джонс, Пит (Jones, Pete); Стэк, Грэм (Stack, Graham) (14 November 2023). "Кипрский филиал аудиторского гиганта PwC, вероятно, нарушил санкции при работе на российского олигарха: Утечка документов показала, что PwC Cyprus поспешила реструктурировать компании российских олигархов, когда возникла угроза санкций. Власти Кипра заверяют, что расследуют эпизод, когда PwC предположительно завершила сделку по продаже акций россиянина через несколько дней после того, как он попал в санкционный список ЕС" [Cyprus Wing of Auditing Giant PwC May Have Breached Sanctions in Work for Oligarch: Leaked documents show staff at PwC Cyprus hurried to restructure companies belonging to Russian oligarchs as the prospect of sanctions loomed. Now Cyprus says it is investigating one case in which PwC staff appeared to work on the transfer of an oligarch’s assets in the days after he was sanctioned by the EU.]. OCCRP (in Russian). Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Alternate archive - ^ Розэ, Анна (Rose, Anna) (15 November 2023). "Журналист для Путина. Как Хуберт Зайпель за деньги хвалил Кремль: Немецкий телеканал ARD и его дочерняя телерадиовещательная компания NDR годами, уже после аннексии Крыма, внимали байкам о России от проплаченного Кремлем журналиста. По данным только что вышедшего в свет расследования, видный немецкий тележурналист Хуберт Зайпель получал из Москвы сотни тысяч евро за книги о Путине. Тем самым Зайпель стал первым западным журналистом, тайное финансирование которого Кремлем было документально доказано" [Journalist for Putin. How Hubert Seipel praised the Kremlin for money: For years, after the annexation of Crimea, the German television channel ARD and its subsidiary broadcasting company NDR listened to stories about Russia from a journalist paid by the Kremlin. According to a just-published investigation, prominent German television journalist Hubert Seipel received hundreds of thousands of euros from Moscow for books about Putin. Thus, Seipel became the first Western journalist whose secret financing by the Kremlin was documented.]. Радио Свобода (in Russian). Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Alternate archive - ^ "TUI open to new majority shareholder following resignation of sanctioned Russian billionaire". City A.M. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ "TUI launches €1.8bn share sale, but Russian owner is banned". Travel Gossip. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ a b "Dr Dieter Zetsche to succeed Professor Klaus Mangold as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TUI AG in 2018". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Change at the helm of TUI Group: Fritz Joussen becomes sole CEO of TUI Group / Peter Long, Joint CEO up to the AGM, becomes Supervisory Board member". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ a b "EANS-Adhoc: TUI AG / Change at the helm of the Supervisory Board". presseportal.de (in German). 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI Group listed in the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as of 1 April". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI shares soar on breakup news". Reuters. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Activist investor fails to oust Tui chairman | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Financial Statements TUI AG" (PDF). tuigroup.com.
- ^ "TUI AG has been informed about changes in ownership of shareholder Unifirm Limited / Change in TUI's shareholder structure". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI Group's Largest Shareholder Hit With European Union Sanctions". Yahoo Finance. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI AG receives information about the owner of its shareholder Unifirm". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Capital Increase". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Shareholder structure". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Tui investors vote to leave London Stock Exchange amid record results". The Guardian. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "All TUI Annual Reports". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "TUI Fundamentalanalyse | KGV | Kennzahlen". boerse.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-03-02.
- ^ a b "Our business". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI Group: Sale of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to TUI Cruises completed". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Imprint - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". www.hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "Our Ships - Hapag-Lloyd Cruises". www.hl-cruises.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI Travel launches Russian joint venture". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "TUI terminates agreement: TUI brand name may no longer be used by TUI Russia". www.tuigroup.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ "ZDF Magazin Royale vom 20. Mai 2022". www.zdf.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-05-20.
- ^ Ltd, Jacobs Media Group. "Scrutiny grows on Mordashov Tui stake". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
- ^ Butler, Sarah; Barr, Caelainn (16 February 2018). "Tui's male employees paid more than double female staff – report". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "The two sides of TUI: crisis-hit holiday giant turned deportation specialist – Corporate Watch". corporatewatch.org. 27 January 2021.
- ^ "The Home Office deportation drive against Channel-crossing migrants: a balance sheet – Corporate Watch". corporatewatch.org. 29 April 2021.
External links
[edit]
Media related to TUI Group at Wikimedia Commons
TUI Group
View on GrokipediaHistory
Origins and Early Development (1920s–1990s)
Preussag AG, the industrial predecessor to the modern TUI Group, was established on December 3, 1923, in Berlin as Preussische Bergwerks- und Hütten-Aktiengesellschaft, a state-supported venture aimed at consolidating and expanding mining and smelting operations in Prussia's resource-rich regions, including coal, iron ore, and salt extraction.[9] Initially capitalized at 100 million Reichsmarks, the company rapidly grew through vertical integration, acquiring mines and foundries to supply steel for Germany's industrial expansion during the Weimar Republic and early Nazi era.[9] By the late 1920s, it employed over 20,000 workers and produced millions of tons of raw materials annually, though operations were disrupted by the Great Depression and rearmament policies.[9] Following World War II, Preussag was dismantled and partially nationalized under Allied control, with assets in the Soviet zone lost; the western remnants were reorganized in 1951 as a joint stock company headquartered in Essen, focusing on reconstruction in energy and metals sectors.[10] Privatization accelerated in the 1950s, enabling diversification into oil exploration, chemicals, and logistics, with international ventures such as stakes in African mining by the 1960s; revenues exceeded DM 10 billion by 1970, supported by Germany's economic miracle.[10] The company navigated the 1970s oil crises by shifting toward non-ferrous metals and trading, but faced profitability pressures from global competition and environmental regulations by the 1980s.[9] Parallel to Preussag's industrial evolution, the tourism foundations of TUI emerged independently in West Germany. On December 1, 1968, four mid-sized tour operators—Touropa (founded 1923), Scharnow-Reisen (1949), Hummel-Reisen (1952), and Dr. Tigges (1928)—merged to form Touristik Union International (TUI) in Hannover, pooling resources to compete in the burgeoning mass tourism market driven by affordable air travel and rising disposable incomes.[3] This entity quickly scaled, chartering flights and developing package holidays to Mediterranean destinations, with customer numbers growing from hundreds of thousands in 1970 to over 2 million by 1980; it also launched hotel brands like Grecotel in Greece.[1] TUI's model emphasized vertical integration, acquiring airlines and resorts to control supply chains amid the 1970s-1980s boom in European leisure travel.[4] By the early 1990s, Preussag grappled with stagnating core businesses amid post-Cold War globalization and deregulation, prompting CEO restructuring under Hans-Jürgen Schinzler. In June 1997, Preussag acquired Hapag-Lloyd AG from the Wessels family for approximately DM 1.2 billion, gaining entry into shipping, cruises, and a 30% stake in TUI, which catalyzed a pivot toward leisure sectors offering higher margins than declining mining.[11] This marked the onset of divestitures in steel and energy—selling assets worth over DM 5 billion by 1999—while consolidating tourism holdings; in 1998, Preussag reorganized TUI and Hapag's travel arms into Hapag Touristik Union (HTU), handling 15 million passengers annually and foreshadowing the conglomerate's full transformation.[12] By decade's end, tourism generated 40% of Preussag's revenues, up from negligible levels, driven by synergies in charter aviation and hotels rather than industrial cycles.[13]Formation of Modern TUI and Expansion (2000–2014)
In 2000, Preussag AG, an industrial conglomerate, acquired the UK-based Thomson Travel Group Plc for approximately €1.8 billion, marking a pivotal expansion into the Northern European tourism market and establishing Preussag as a dominant player in package holidays.[14] This deal, cleared by the European Commission with conditions to preserve competition in accommodation sourcing, integrated Thomson's extensive network of tour operations, airlines, and hotels, complementing Preussag's existing German and continental European holdings under Hapag Touristik Union (HTU), which was renamed TUI Group that year.[4] The acquisition accelerated Preussag's strategic shift from mining and manufacturing toward leisure travel, divesting non-core assets to fund further tourism investments. By 2002, following the full consolidation of its tourism subsidiaries—including the 2001 acquisition of full ownership in TUI Group—Preussag AG rebranded as TUI AG on September 2, signaling a complete refocus on the sector.[4] This transformation involved selling off industrial divisions, such as logistics firm VTG in 2005, while retaining and expanding travel-related entities like Hapag-Lloyd for cruises and container shipping until partial spin-offs.[4] TUI AG grew its portfolio through vertical integration, controlling airlines, hotels, and retail agencies across Europe, achieving a market capitalization exceeding €5 billion by mid-decade and positioning itself as Europe's largest tour operator by customer volume, serving over 20 million travelers annually. The 2007 merger of TUI AG's tourism division with First Choice Holidays Plc created TUI Travel Plc, a London-listed entity in which TUI AG held a 55% stake, valued at around £5.5 billion.[4] This all-share transaction enhanced scale in the UK and added First Choice's charter airline and resort brands, enabling cost synergies estimated at €150 million annually through shared procurement and operations.[4] Expansion continued with joint ventures, such as the 2005 partnership in India, and selective acquisitions in emerging markets, bolstering TUI's global footprint amid rising demand for integrated leisure experiences. Culminating the period, TUI AG and TUI Travel announced a full merger in June 2014, completed in December, forming the unified TUI Group with a market value of €7 billion and operations spanning 180 countries, including 1,800 travel agencies, 136 aircraft, and 300 hotels.[1] The deal, structured as an all-share exchange (0.229 new TUI shares per TUI Travel share), eliminated the dual structure, streamlined governance under Hanover headquarters, and reinforced vertical integration to capture €100 million in annual synergies, solidifying TUI's leadership in leisure tourism despite economic headwinds like the 2008 financial crisis.[4]Mergers, Challenges, and Restructuring (2014–2020)
In December 2014, TUI AG completed its all-share merger with TUI Travel PLC, a deal initially agreed in June 2014 valued at approximately €3.6 billion (£4.5 billion at the time), forming the world's largest vertically integrated leisure travel group with combined revenues exceeding €18 billion.[15][16] The merger integrated tour operations, airlines, hotels, and cruises under a unified structure, enabling greater control over the customer value chain from booking to destination experiences, though it required resolving shareholder approvals and regulatory hurdles in the UK and EU.[17] Following the merger, TUI pursued a strategic realignment announced in May 2015, reorganizing into a flatter hierarchy that fully integrated tour operating with proprietary hotels and cruise operations to enhance efficiency and agility.[18] This included milestones for growth by 2018, such as expanding the TUI master brand, investing in digital platforms, and optimizing airline and cruise segments through fleet modernization and route adjustments, aiming for 10-15% core earnings growth in fiscal 2014/15 despite post-merger integration costs.[19][20] The focus shifted toward high-margin vertical integration, with divestitures like the 2016 sale of HBX Group (a hotel booking platform) to Cinven for $1.3 billion to streamline non-core assets.[21] From 2015 to 2019, TUI faced persistent challenges including geopolitical instability affecting key destinations (e.g., terrorism in Turkey and Egypt reducing bookings), Brexit uncertainty delaying UK demand, summer heatwaves in 2018, and rising aviation fuel and capacity costs, which contributed to stagnant underlying profits despite revenue growth to €18.5 billion by fiscal 2018/19.[22][23] The 2019 collapse of rival Thomas Cook provided short-term capacity relief and market share gains for TUI, which reported double-digit earnings growth that year, but structural pressures like online booking shifts and low industry margins persisted, prompting ongoing cost discipline and sustainability initiatives such as emission reductions.[24][25] The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 triggered TUI's most severe crisis, halting nearly all operations by March, grounding fleets, and closing hotels and cruises, resulting in a €3 billion net loss for the fiscal year ended September 2020 and liquidity strains necessitating €4.75 billion in government-backed loans from Germany, the UK, and others.[26][27] In response, TUI accelerated restructuring with a global realignment plan in May 2020, targeting 30% overhead cost reductions, divestment of non-essential assets, and a shift to digital and product-focused operations; this included repositioning in markets like France via store closures and workforce adjustments, alongside management reshuffles effective January 2021 to prioritize recovery.[28][29][30]Post-Pandemic Recovery and Recent Growth (2020–Present)
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted TUI Group's operations, leading to near-total shutdowns of travel and tourism activities in fiscal years 2020 and 2021, with revenues falling to €7.9 billion in FY2020 (a 58% decline from pre-pandemic levels) and further to €4.7 billion in FY2021 amid prolonged lockdowns and travel restrictions.[31] The company recorded substantial losses, including an underlying EBIT of negative €3.1 billion in FY2020, necessitating government support packages totaling over €5 billion from Germany, the UK, and other governments to avert insolvency, alongside cost-cutting measures such as fleet groundings and staff furloughs.[32] Recovery began in FY2022 as borders reopened, driving revenues up 250% to €16.5 billion, though the group still posted a net loss of €277 million due to lingering demand uncertainty and inflationary pressures on fuel and operations.[31] By FY2023, TUI achieved a turnaround to profitability, with revenues reaching €20.7 billion and underlying EBIT turning positive at €306 million, fueled by pent-up traveler demand, strategic capacity increases in high-margin segments like hotels and cruises, and a shift toward more resilient package holiday models that bundled flights, accommodations, and experiences.[32] This momentum accelerated in FY2024, as revenues climbed 12% to €23.2 billion and underlying EBIT rose to €1.3 billion, supported by record performances in the Hotels & Resorts division (contributing over 20% growth) and Cruises (with new ship launches like Mein Schiff 7 boosting occupancy to near 100%).[33] [34] Key strategies included accelerated digitalization for personalized bookings, sustainability investments to appeal to eco-conscious consumers, and financial deleveraging, such as repaying pandemic-era convertible bonds early in 2024 and 2025 to reduce debt by hundreds of millions of euros.[35] [36] Into FY2025, TUI has sustained growth amid a normalizing travel market, reporting €3.71 billion in Q2 revenues (up 1.5% year-over-year, adjusted for calendar effects) and raising full-year underlying EBIT guidance to +9-11% growth (from €1.3 billion base), driven by strong summer bookings and fleet expansions including 18 cruise ships deployed for winter.[37] [33] Operating profit for the first nine months reached €199 million at constant currencies, with emphasis on high-yield markets in Northern Europe and strategic realignments like transferring newbuild slots to TUI Cruises for long-term capacity in the UK and Scandinavia.[38] [39] Challenges persist from one-off costs and geopolitical risks, but the group's focus on operational efficiency and diversified revenue streams—hotels and cruises now comprising over 40% of EBIT—positions it for sustained expansion beyond pandemic-era volatility.[40]| Fiscal Year | Revenue (€ billion) | Underlying EBIT (€ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.9 | -3,148 |
| 2021 | 4.7 | -2,467 |
| 2022 | 16.5 | -277 |
| 2023 | 20.7 | 306 |
| 2024 | 23.2 | 1,296 |
Corporate Governance and Ownership
Executive and Supervisory Structure
TUI AG, as a German Aktiengesellschaft, operates under a two-tier board system mandated by German corporate law, comprising an Executive Board (Vorstand) responsible for managing the company's operations and representing it externally, and a Supervisory Board (Aufsichtsrat) tasked with overseeing the Executive Board, approving strategic decisions, and ensuring compliance with governance standards.[41] The Executive Board consists of five members, each handling specific operational domains, while the Supervisory Board has 20 members, including employee representatives, to reflect stakeholder interests.[42] This structure aligns with the German Corporate Governance Code, emphasizing responsible management and transparency.[43] The Executive Board, led by Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Ebel, directs day-to-day business across TUI's tourism segments, including airlines, hotels, and tour operations.[42] Key members include Mathias Kiep as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing financial strategy and reporting; Peter Krueger as Chief Strategy Officer and CEO of Holiday Experiences, focusing on hotels and resorts; Sybille Reiss as Chief People Officer and Labour Director, managing human resources and labor relations; and David Schelp as CEO of Markets and Airlines, handling tour operators, retail, and air transport.[42] The board is supported by the Group Executive Committee, comprising 10 members who provide broader strategic input and operational coordination.[42] The Supervisory Board, chaired by Dr. Dieter Zetsche since 2021, appoints and monitors the Executive Board, reviews annual financial statements, and authorizes major transactions such as acquisitions or divestitures.[42] It includes specialized committees, including the Presiding Committee for board coordination, the Audit Committee for financial oversight led by Dr. Jutta A. Dönges, and others addressing nominations, remuneration, and mediation.[44] Recent appointments include Rainald Thannisch as an employee representative effective January 6, 2025, and Johan Lundgren, former CEO of TUI Airways' parent, via court appointment on June 30, 2025, replacing Pepijn Rijvers, reflecting ongoing adjustments to expertise in aviation and strategy.[45][46] The board's composition balances shareholder, employee, and independent voices, with remuneration tied to performance metrics to align with long-term value creation.[47]Major Shareholders and Ownership Dynamics
As of September 2025, TUI AG's largest individual shareholder is Alexey Mordashov, holding approximately 10.9% of shares, though his voting rights have been suspended since February 2022 under EU sanctions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.[48][49] Institutional investors collectively hold around 58% of the company, with key holders including The Vanguard Group at 3.59%, Norges Bank Investment Management at 3.0%, and Union Investment at 2.84%.[50][51] Private investors account for about 30%, while smaller stakes include private companies such as RIU S.A. at 1.1% and government entities at roughly 2.6%.[52]| Shareholder | Ownership Percentage | As of Date |
|---|---|---|
| Alexey Mordashov | 10.9% | September 2025[51] |
| The Vanguard Group | 3.59% | September 29, 2025[50] |
| Norges Bank Investment Management | 3.0% | August 24, 2025[50] |
| Union Investment | 2.84% | Recent filings[48] |
Financial Performance
Historical Trends and Key Metrics
TUI Group's financial performance exhibited steady growth in the decade leading to 2019, driven by vertical integration across tourism services and expansion in high-margin segments like hotels and cruises, culminating in FY2019 revenue of €18.9 billion and underlying EBITA of €893 million.[25] The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 disrupted global travel, resulting in a collapse of demand and government-mandated restrictions, which slashed FY2020 revenue to €4.7 billion—a drop of over 75% from the prior year—and produced a net loss of €2.5 billion, reflecting near-total cessation of operations in Q2 and Q3.[59] Post-pandemic recovery accelerated from FY2021 onward, supported by vaccination rollouts, eased restrictions, and pent-up demand, with revenue rebounding to €16.5 billion amid partial resumption of flights and tours, though net losses persisted at €277 million due to lingering costs and debt from emergency financing.[59] Profitability returned in FY2022 as revenue climbed to €20.7 billion, exceeding pre-COVID levels in absolute terms through higher average revenue per customer from premium offerings and dynamic pricing, yielding a net profit of €306 million and EBITDA of €1.9 billion.[59] This upward trajectory continued, with FY2023 revenue reaching €23.2 billion and net profit €507 million, and FY2024 marking records at €24.2 billion in revenue, €663 million in net profit, and €2.4 billion in EBITDA, as customer volumes approached 20.3 million—still modestly below 2019 peaks but offset by elevated spending and efficiency gains in integrated operations.[59][6] Key historical metrics underscore the volatility and resilience:| Fiscal Year (ending Sep 30) | Revenue (€ million) | EBITDA (€ million) | Net Income (€ million) | Customers Travelled (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18,900 | N/A | 532 | ~21 |
| 2020 | 4,732 | -999 | -2,467 | <1 |
| 2021 | 16,545 | 1,222 | -277 | ~12 |
| 2022 | 20,666 | 1,919 | 306 | ~18 |
| 2023 | 23,167 | 2,218 | 507 | 19.0 |
| 2024 | 24,204 | 2,391 | 663 | 20.3 |
Recent Results and Outlook (2023–2025)
In fiscal year 2023 (ending 30 September 2023), TUI Group achieved record revenue of €20.7 billion, a 25% increase from €16.5 billion in the prior year, driven by strong post-pandemic demand recovery across tour operations, hotels, and cruises.[62] Underlying EBIT rose sharply to €977 million, up 139% or €568 million year-over-year, reflecting improved operational efficiencies and higher volumes despite lingering supply chain pressures.[63] Fiscal year 2024 (ending 30 September 2024) saw continued momentum, with revenue expanding 12% to €23.2 billion, supported by robust customer bookings in hotels, resorts, and cruises amid sustained European leisure travel demand.[6] Underlying EBIT grew 33% to €1.3 billion (or 35% at constant currency), bolstered by margin improvements in the Holiday Experiences segment and cost controls, though offset partially by inflationary fuel and wage costs.[64] For fiscal year 2025 (ongoing as of October 2025), TUI reported strong nine-month performance through June 2025, with Q3 underlying EBIT reaching a record €320.6 million, fueled by exceptional results in hotels, cruises, and activities.[65] The company raised its full-year underlying EBIT growth guidance to 9-11% at constant currency (from 7-10%), citing resilient summer volumes and average selling price increases of 3% despite a 2% dip in overall bookings.[33] A September 2025 pre-close update confirmed trajectory toward this target, with positive early winter 2025/26 bookings signaling stable demand, though management noted potential headwinds from one-off transformation costs and softer package holiday volumes.[66][40]| Fiscal Year | Revenue (€ billion) | Underlying EBIT (€ million) | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20.7 ( +25% YoY ) | 977 ( +139% YoY ) | Demand recovery |
| 2024 | 23.2 ( +12% YoY ) | 1,300 ( +33% YoY ) | Segment margins |
| 2025 (guidance) | N/A | +9-11% growth (cc) | Holiday Experiences |
Core Operations
Hotels and Resorts Portfolio
TUI Hotels & Resorts operates as an independent division of TUI Group, managing a portfolio exceeding 400 hotels and resorts worldwide, primarily in prime vacation destinations such as the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, North Africa, the Caribbean, and emerging markets in Asia and Africa.[67] These properties emphasize leisure experiences tailored to regional attractions, with a focus on owned and managed assets offering over 214,000 beds as of recent reports.[68] The division integrates vertically with TUI's tour operations, enabling bundled packages that drive occupancy and revenue synergies.[8] The portfolio encompasses 12 primary leisure hotel brands, including RIU Hotels & Resorts, TUI BLUE, Robinson, TUI MAGIC LIFE, Royalton Luxury Resorts, Atlantica Hotels & Resorts, and the newly debuted luxury brand The Mora, alongside others like Iberotel.[69] These brands target diverse segments, from family-oriented all-inclusives to upscale wellness retreats, with RIU and TUI BLUE forming core pillars in beachfront and urban-adjacent locations.[70] TUI also partners with external chains such as Karisma Hotels & Resorts, Rixos Hotels, and Meliá Hotels for selective integrations, expanding effective capacity without full ownership.[71] Expansion efforts have accelerated post-2020, with the division achieving its 500th hotel project milestone in March 2025 and securing over 70 signed contracts to surpass 500 properties, aiming for 600 in the mid-term.[72][73] In Europe, over 230 hotels bolster the core market, while Asia targets doubling to 44 properties by 2027 through 22 new openings in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.[74][75] Africa sees growth via established brands, contributing to underlying EBIT stability amid seasonal demand.[76] This strategy prioritizes high-yield destinations, with Q3 2025 revenue up 6% to €548.4 million, reflecting resilient performance.[77]Cruise Division
TUI Group's Cruise Division encompasses three primary brands: TUI Cruises, operating in the premium segment primarily for the German-speaking market; Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, focused on luxury and expedition voyages; and Marella Cruises, targeting the UK market with diverse cruise formats.[78] The division manages a fleet of approximately 18 ships, serving markets in Europe and worldwide destinations.[78] TUI Cruises was established in 2008 as a 50:50 joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group, headquartered in Hamburg, with its Mein Schiff brand launching operations in 2009 to cater to German holidaymakers seeking premium all-inclusive experiences.[78] In February 2020, TUI AG contributed its wholly owned subsidiary Hapag-Lloyd Cruises into the joint venture for an enterprise value of €1.2 billion, integrating luxury and expedition operations under the same ownership structure while maintaining brand distinctions; the transaction closed in July 2020.[79] [80] Marella Cruises, rebranded from Thomson Cruises in 2018, operates independently under TUI Group but aligns with the division's UK-focused strategy.[78] The fleet includes seven Mein Schiff vessels for TUI Cruises, such as Mein Schiff 1 (built 2018, 97,193 gross tons, capacity ~2,500 passengers), Mein Schiff 2 (2019), and newer additions like Mein Schiff Relax (2023) and Mein Schiff Flow (2025 delivery pending expansions).[81] Hapag-Lloyd Cruises operates five specialized ships: luxury liners MS Europa (1999, 28,437 gross tons, ~500 passengers) and MS Europa 2 (2013, 62,849 gross tons, ~700 passengers), plus expedition vessels Hanseatic Nature, Inspiration, and Spirit (each ~15,000 gross tons, ~230 passengers, delivered 2019–2020 for polar and remote itineraries).[82] [83] Marella's five ships, including Marella Voyager (2023 refurbished, 141,000 gross tons, ~2,800 passengers) and Explorer 2 (adults-only), emphasize Mediterranean and Caribbean routes with all-inclusive options.[84] Operations emphasize segmented markets: TUI Cruises focuses on short-haul Mediterranean and Canary Islands voyages from German ports; Hapag-Lloyd targets high-end global itineraries, including Antarctica and Arctic expeditions with ice-class capabilities; Marella prioritizes no-fly UK departures and family-oriented sailings.[78] In September 2025, TUI AG allocated two newbuild slots to TUI Cruises to bolster long-term capacity in Europe and the UK.[85] Financially, the division contributed to TUI Group's 2024 revenue of €23.2 billion, with cruises achieving 99% average occupancy amid robust demand.[86] Underlying EBIT for cruises reached €82 million in Q2 2025, a record, driven by premium pricing and high load factors.[87] TUI Cruises and Marella combined generated peak revenue of approximately €1.5 billion for the October 2023–September 2024 period, reflecting post-pandemic recovery and fleet utilization.[88]Airlines and Air Transport
TUI Group's airlines division comprises five independent carriers—TUI Airways (United Kingdom and Ireland), TUI fly Deutschland, TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Netherlands, and TUI fly Nordic—operating under centralized management through TUI Aviation. These airlines focus exclusively on leisure travel, transporting passengers to vacation destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Collectively, they serve over 100 destinations from multiple European bases, integrating seamlessly with TUI's tour operator and hotel segments to support package holidays.[89] The fleet totals approximately 130 aircraft, comprising medium- and long-haul models optimized for high-density leisure configurations. Short- and medium-haul operations rely primarily on Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX variants, while long-haul routes utilize Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with TUI maintaining one of Europe's largest Dreamliner fleets. As of early 2025, TUI Airways alone operates around 60-69 aircraft from 17 UK and Irish bases, including 14 Boeing 787s for transatlantic and extended-range flights. The group has 34 Boeing narrow-body jets on order, including 27 737 MAX 10s and seven 737 MAX 8s, to modernize and expand capacity amid post-pandemic demand recovery.[89][90][91][92] Air transport underpins TUI's vertical integration, with airlines accounting for the majority of guest journeys to resorts and cruises. In peak seasons, the fleet expands via wet-leases to over 175 aircraft to handle seasonal surges in holiday bookings. Operations emphasize efficiency, with bases at major airports like London Gatwick, Manchester, Hannover, Brussels, and Amsterdam facilitating direct flights to sun-and-beach hotspots such as Spain, Greece, Turkey, and the Canary Islands.[93][94] Sustainability initiatives in air transport include a commitment to reduce CO2 equivalent emissions per revenue passenger kilometer by 24% by 2030 from 2019 levels, achieved through fleet renewal, optimized routing via tools like SITA OptiClimb for climb-phase fuel savings, and increased use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In 2024, TUI utilized 1,700 tons of SAF, with ongoing trials for waste reduction and partnerships for further decarbonization, such as with Cepsa for SAF supply. These measures address aviation's environmental footprint while supporting operational resilience.[95][96][97][98]Tour Operators and Retail Networks
TUI Group's tour operations center on packaged holidays that integrate air transport, accommodations, and ancillary services, primarily marketed under the unified TUI brand following the 2014 merger of its predecessor entities. These operations serve as the group's primary customer-facing division in source markets across Europe, generating revenue through bundled travel products tailored to leisure consumers. In fiscal year 2024, tour operator activities contributed significantly to the group's overall turnover of €23.2 billion, with underlying EBIT growth reflecting robust demand for summer and winter programs.[6] The division emphasizes destinations in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and long-haul locations, leveraging vertical integration with TUI's airlines and hotels to control costs and enhance reliability.[1] Regionally, TUI holds leading positions in key European markets, including Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Nordic countries, where it operates as the dominant provider of organized tourism. For instance, the Northern Region—encompassing the UK, Nordics, and Benelux—emerged as the most profitable segment in recent years, driven by high-margin package sales and customer loyalty programs.[99] Market analyses position TUI as Europe's largest tour operator by volume, with operations spanning over 100 countries and focusing on mass-market and premium segments without reliance on subcontracted capacity.[100] The retail network complements tour operations by providing physical and digital points of sale, enabling personalized consultations and impulse bookings. As of late 2024, TUI maintained approximately 1,600 travel agencies, incorporating traditional high-street stores alongside digital holiday outlets to adapt to shifting consumer preferences.[6] These outlets, concentrated in urban centers across Germany (over 500 locations), the UK (around 400), and other core markets, facilitate 40-50% of bookings in mature regions where face-to-face advice remains valued for complex itineraries.[101] Digital integration has accelerated since 2020, with online platforms handling a growing share of sales while retail stores emphasize experiential elements like virtual reality previews and sustainability consultations. This hybrid model supports TUI's strategy of maintaining market proximity amid competition from direct-to-consumer online aggregators.[7]Sustainability Efforts and Environmental Considerations
Corporate Initiatives and Commitments
TUI Group's Sustainability Agenda, launched in 2021 and updated periodically, structures its environmental commitments around three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress, aiming to integrate sustainable practices across its tourism operations.[102] The Planet pillar emphasizes emission reductions and resource efficiency, with the company pledging to achieve net-zero emissions across its business areas and supply chains by 2050 at the latest.[103] These targets align with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which validated specific 2030 goals in 2023: a 24% reduction in CO₂e per revenue passenger kilometer for TUI Airlines, a 27.5% absolute reduction in CO₂e for cruise operations, and at least a 46.2% reduction in CO₂e for TUI Hotels & Resorts, all relative to 2019 baselines.[95] In support of these emission goals, TUI has issued sustainability-linked senior notes, including a February 2024 issuance tied to a key performance indicator of reducing CO₂e per revenue passenger kilometer by 11% by fiscal year 2026, with financial penalties for non-achievement.[104] The company also commits to advancing sustainable aviation fuels and energy-efficient technologies in its airlines and cruises, as outlined in its 2024 Annual Report.[105] For resource management, TUI targets the elimination of single-use plastics through its "Avoid, Reuse, Replace" framework, including the introduction of microfibre filters in hotels and updated plastic reduction guidelines across operations.[106] Through the TUI Care Foundation, established in 2006, the group pledges ongoing investment in biodiversity protection and environmental education, with commitments to verify sustainable tourism experiences against international criteria and support local community projects in destination countries.[96] TUI further aligns its strategy with broader frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Cruise Lines International Association's net-zero emissions target by 2050 for its cruise division.[107] These initiatives are monitored via annual sustainability reporting, with external validations such as inclusion on the CDP A List for climate change action in 2024.[108]Measured Impacts and Empirical Data
TUI Group's total greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 reached 7,192,680 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent in fiscal year 2023, with aviation accounting for approximately 70% of the company's overall footprint.[109][110] Scope 2 emissions, primarily from purchased electricity, totaled 536,495 tCO₂e in the same period.[109] In fiscal year 2024, TUI Hotels & Resorts reported an 11% reduction in CO₂ emissions per guest night compared to the prior year, measured in tons of CO₂ equivalent relative to guest nights across owned, managed, and leased properties.[96] The company's airline operations utilized 1,700 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), marking a 50% increase from the previous year, contributing to incremental emission offsets.[96] For cruises, 72 port calls employed onshore power connections by September 2024, up 38% from 52 calls in 2023, each saving approximately 15 tons of CO₂ through reduced auxiliary engine use.[96] Additional operational metrics include up to 90% fuel emission reductions from renewable diesel (HVO) in a Benidorm coach pilot and over 65 contrail avoidance flights to minimize high-altitude radiative forcing.[96] TUI's German office buildings transitioned to 100% renewable energy sourcing, while three solar plants in Turkey generated 15 MW of photovoltaic capacity to power eight hotels.[96] Waste reduction efforts saved an estimated 24 million single-use plastic bottles annually through Brita filter installations at 72 Jaz hotels in Egypt.[96]| Metric | Value (FY2024 unless noted) | Comparison/Baseline |
|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per guest night (hotels) | 11% reduction | vs. FY2023[96] |
| SAF usage (airlines) | 1,700 tons | +50% vs. prior year[96] |
| Onshore power port calls (cruises) | 72 | +38% vs. 52 in 2023; ~15 tCO₂ saved per call[96] |
| Total GHG emissions (Scopes 1-3) | 7,192,680 tCO₂e | FY2023[109] |