Kuoni reveals its Travel Trends Report 2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:54:09 GMT

The Maldives has once again topped Kuoni's annual poll of where UK customers want to spend their holidays. In the company's top ten selling destinations for 2012, the Indian Ocean archipelago has held on to the top slot since 2005.

Where holidaymakers want to go is just part of leading tour operator Kuoni's annual Travel Trends Report. The 20-page report also tracks hot travel trends and the top destinations for weddings and honeymoons, for families, for solo travellers, for pampering spa holidays, for the most exciting adventures and authentic experiences as well as the best destinations for those that care about the planet.

The report also highlights changes in holiday behaviour and includes trends in holiday booking behaviour, such as the importance of social media in driving holiday choices.

The top five destinations for 2012 are Maldives holidays, Thailand, Sri Lanka, The United Arab Emirates and the USA, including New York holidays. Kuoni predicts that South Africa will witness huge growth over the next 12 months, helped by the exposure from the football World Cup last year and the weakened currency against sterling. The only mid-haul destination in the 2012 Top Ten selling destinations is the United Arab Emirates, mostly due to the popularity of Dubai holidays.

The Maldives also retained its top slot for honeymoon destinations and topped the wish list for digital natives, better known as Generation X, Y and Z. Sri Lanka holidays retained 'Number One Destination for Weddings', Kuramathi Island Resort in the Maldives kept the top slot for 'Family Destinations', as did Thailand holidays for solo travelling.

The winner of the Top 10 Adventure Holiday is the 11-day tour of culture-rich Sri Lanka on the Ceylon Tour, while those looking for the best 'Planet Friendly Holiday' voted for Governors Main Camp in the wildlife safari heaven of Kenya.

Aside from favourite and new destinations, there are changes in the type of holiday the customer wants. More destination-savvy and discerning holidaymakers are looking for different types of holiday, with four specific trends emerging:
- a thirst for discovery
- authenticity of experience
- social responsibility
- face to face contact with a travel expert when booking.

To meet the needs of a changing holidaymaker, Kuoni launched the Discover brochure for 2012, packed with experiences and tours to help get under the skin of a destination. The company has also launched ananea, a sustainable brand that stands for socially responsible holidays that empower people to protect the natural environment and local population. Kuoni has also strengthened its retail presence across the UK over the last 12 months, with more retail stores for holidaymakers to access all-important first-hand expertise and knowledge.

About the 2012 Travel Trends Report:
Figures in Kuoni's 2012 Travel Trends Report are based on multiple sources, namely statistics from booking patterns made between January to December 2011 for holidays during 2011 and 2012, actual passenger numbers, customer behaviour and feedback.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years, best Luxury Tour Operator at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards and has also scored most highly in the Which? top 20 travel company survey 2011. Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years.

Kuoni utilise innovative technologies in new 2012 brand campaign

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:38:41 GMT

Kuoni, a leading travel brand, has announced its aim to optimise digital channels with its 2012 integrated marketing campaign.

Over and above traditional marketing channels such as national and regional press, outdoor, radio and direct mail, the online elements of the campaign offer exciting new innovations and creative thinking from Kuoni.

These innovations include the use of augmented reality in all national press and magazine advertising which the company hopes will reinvent print advertising by creating a two-way communication. Kuoni is one of the first UK tour operators to use augmented reality whereby consumers will be prompted to view extra content and video through smartphones and iPads using image recognition technology from Aurasma.

Martina King, Managing Director of Aurasma said: "Kuoni are natural partners for Aurasma because like us, their business is all about creating memorable experiences for people. This campaign is visually stunning and includes the first ever integration of a 'click to call' feature in the app. This makes it engaging and fast tracks the consumer journey from print brochure to booking line."

Naomi Wilkinson, Kuoni's Head of Marketing added: "With a significant proportion of our online traffic coming from smartphones and tablets, augmented reality felt like the next logical step in creating a seamless multi-channel experience for the Kuoni customer."

Kuoni has also employed dynamic creative messaging in online display advertising for its new campaign. Over 240 creative message variations have been created, all based on a consumer's journey and level of interaction with the Kuoni website. In this way, future messaging can be tailored to the individual experience and stage in the booking process. Matt Dailey of Media Edge CIA commented: "The importance of relevancy, personalisation and context in marketing messages cannot be underplayed in driving increased conversion levels for businesses like Kuoni. Dynamic creative messaging has moved this opportunity to online display campaigns, enabling the levels of relevancy and personalisation that consumers expect and that drive them to re-consider Kuoni and take action."

Furthermore, Kuoni launched a social media competition on Facebook that allows fans of the company's Facebook page to get involved and create their own "Requested by you…Crafted by Kuoni" campaign poster. Entrants can choose an image from the Kuoni brand images and write their personal holiday requests for a chance to win a £2,000 Kuoni Gift Card for their next holiday. The competition runs until February 29th 2012.

Naomi Wilkinson commented: "Kuoni has successfully established Facebook and Twitter pages with 15,000+ and 5,000+ followers respectively. The Facebook competition is a way for customers and followers to engage with Kuoni in a fun and creative way whilst bringing alive the essence of the campaign."

This new innovative approach seeks to provide a truly multi-channel experience to the consumer and reinforces Kuoni's innovative ethos.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years, best Luxury Tour Operator at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards and has also scored most highly in the Which? Top 20 travel company survey 2011. Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years.

Kuoni offer tours across the globe, including Dubai holidays, Sri Lanka holidays, Florida holidays and Caribbean holidays, as well as many tours suited to honeymoons.

Kuoni launches 'Limited Release Holidays' range

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:30:52 GMT

Kuoni, the award-winning travel brand, has launched its range of affordable offers, known as "Limited Release Holidays".

The range of offers are targeted towards holidaymakers after five particular types of holiday - 'Great value holidays', 'Away from it all', 'Discover', 'Mind, body and soul' and 'For the kids'. Each holiday type has been designed around the needs of travellers after a particular type of break, and include transfers, flights (including taxes and surcharges), pricing per person and savings per couple.

The 'Great value holidays' are designed for customers who want the best prices and savings in quality locations, the 'away from it all' holidays aim to appeal to those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The 'discover' holidays are aimed at explorers, adventurers and culture connoisseurs, while at the other end of the spectrum, the 'mind, body and soul' holidays are designed for those that want serenity and luxury in natural surroundings. Finally, the 'for the kids' holidays are tailored towards children's needs, offering suitable activities and places to explore in exotic locations.

The Limited Release Holidays is a part of Kuoni's new multi-media, tactically led brand campaign, which includes a significant digital display campaign, colour advertisements in the national press (including augmented reality), a Kuoni store centric radio campaign and a Kuoni Facebook poster campaign.

Naomi Wilkinson, Kuoni's head of marketing, said: "Kuoni have a brand new campaign which has evolved from our customer proposition research in 2011. We have invested in a multi-million pound campaign in media across the marketing mix. The campaign is running across traditional and digital channels to communicate to customers at various touch points in the customer journey."

For more information, customers can visit http://www.kuoni.co.uk/limitedrelease.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. It has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years and scored most highly in the Which? top 20 travel company survey 2011. Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years. Kuoni offer holidays in a wide variety of destinations, including Maldives holidays, Mauritius holidays, Dubai holidays and holidays to Thailand.

Kuoni voted best 'Luxury Tour Operator' at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards 2011

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:41:44 GMT

Kuoni is proud to have been voted number one in the 'Luxury Tour Operator' category at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers’ Awards 2011, held at the beautifully restored St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London.

This is the first year that the Sunday Times Travel Magazine has held a ceremony to celebrate with the winners of these prestigious awards, as voted for by the Sunday Times Travel Magazine readers. The ceremony was hosted by the editor, Ed Grenby, and attended by industry leaders from the airlines, hotels and destinations.

Naomi Wilkinson, Head of Marketing, Kuoni UK said: "I would like to say a big thank-you to the readers who voted for us. At Kuoni, we pride ourselves on our breadth and depth of product in the luxury arena, as well as our renowned customer service and tailor-making capabilities, so to win the 'Luxury Tour Operator' Award makes us very proud."

Other winners in the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards included: Hotel Arts Barcelona (European City Hotel), The Peninsula Hong Kong (Worldwide City Hotel), Rome (European City Break), Southern Spain (European Beach Destination), Maldives (Worldwide Beach Destination), New York (Worldwide City break), Australia (Worldwide Adventure Destination), British Airways (Short-haul Airline) and Virgin Atlantic (Long-haul Airline), all of whom Kuoni are delighted to be working with.

In previous years, Kuoni has picked up the following Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards: Favourite Family Tour Operator (2010); Favourite Tour Operator for family holidays (2009); Best Longhaul Tour Operator (2008) and Best Travel Company (2006/2005/2004).

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. It has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years and scored most highly in the Which? top 20 travel company survey 2011. Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years. Kuoni offers travel and packages to a variety of worldwide destinations including Thailand holidays, Maldives holidays, Mauritius holidays, Sri Lanka holidays and USA holidays.

For customers who like to book a holiday face-to-face with their own personal consultant, they are invited to pop into one of Kuoni's exclusive travel stores across the UK. Kuoni stores can be found in; High Street Kensington, Knightsbridge and Cheapside in London, Blue Water, Bristol, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Dorking, Guildford, Kingston, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Sheffield and Solihull. Coming soon: Canterbury, Chichester, Westfield Stratford City and Winchester.

Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected.

Kuoni launches new 'Discover' brochure

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:17:46 GMT

Kuoni, a leading travel operator in the UK, has revealed in its new 'Discover' brochure, a collection of enthralling holidays aimed at adventurous travellers.

Whether it's hot air ballooning in Jaipur, tea with a Gurkha family, zip-lining in Honduras, horse riding in Uruguay, cruising in Antarctica, snorkeling in the San Blas Islands in Panama, wildlife spotting in Guyana or walking the Inca trail in Peru, readers of the brochure are invited to engage with the many adventures available through Kuoni travel. These exciting and iconic experiences are just a few that fill the pages of 'Discover.'

In the spirit of some of the most famous adventurers, from Captain Cook and Vasco da Gama to Christopher Columbus, Kuoni has created its first dedicated brochure, featuring authentic experiences, inspirational trips, once-in-a-lifetime tours and the company's trademark personalised itineraries, all designed to satisfy the most ardent adventurers.

The Discover brochure focuses on four of the world's most memorable regions, Latin America, the Far East, Africa and India holidays.

Travellers can choose between independent itineraries, small group tours, escorted tours, private tours, rail journeys, self-drive, cruises or safaris. Such holidays are popular choices for family travel, honeymoons and gap year adventures. People can cherry pick options in the brochure or have Kuoni tailor-make a personalised itinerary.

This collection offers a wide range of adventurous experiences across the globe, including: Attenborough-style journeys in Antarctica; spotting jaguars and cougars in Venezuela; journeying Patagonia; trekking in Annapurna; visiting elephant stables in Hampi and discovering the real Kathmandu.

"This collection represents extraordinary experiences for our travellers," said Sarah Beckwith, Kuoni's Market Manager for Discover. "They can explore the world and experience true adventure, all backed up with Kuoni's unparalleled experience, insider knowledge and service. We can optimise your holiday time by tailor-making whatever experiences your heart desires."

A dedicated sales team backs up Discover with destination specific knowledge for those wanting to make face-to-face bookings at any of Kuoni's retail stores. In addition, Kuoni's online magazine gives further inspiration.

Seasoned traveller Simon Reeve, presenter of the BBC series 'Equator,' 'Tropic of Capricorn' and 'Tropic of Cancer,' has collaborated with Kuoni on the Discover brochure by writing the foreword. He refers to Discover as "tickling and tantalising your taste buds." Reeve was also present at the brochure's high-profile launch at The Dorchester, taking questions and sharing his unforgettable travel experiences.

- Ends -

About Kuoni Group:
The Kuoni Group is one of the world's leading globally-active leisure and destination management travel organisations, with a worldwide workforce of 8 772 (full-time equivalent) employees and consolidated turnover of CHF 3 984 million in 2010. Kuoni's activities are focused on its core leisure travel and destination management businesses. The head office of Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. is in Zurich, Switzerland, where Alfred Kuoni founded the company back in 1906. The Kuoni Group has steadily and systematically developed its position in the world travel market over the years and has branch operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, India, Middle East, North America, South America and Oceania.

Kuoni UK offers a number of different holidays, including: USA holidays; holidays in Maldives; and various Thailand holiday options.

The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni wins ten new travel awards

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:26:16 GMT

Kuoni, a leading luxury tour operator, has won ten new awards for its travel services, including the title of 'Long Haul Tour Operator of the Year'. These awards help to further endorse its position as the number one operator in the UK for quality and tailor-made long haul travel.

The title of 'Long Haul Tour Operator of the Year' was voted by the Scottish Passenger Agents' Association (SPAA), an important travel trade association in Scotland.

In addition to the 'Long Haul Tour Operator of the Year' award, Kuoni was also named:
- Best Safari, Wildlife and Nature Tour Operator
- Best Weddings and Honeymoons Tour Operator
- Best Tour Operator to the Caribbean and Bermuda
- Best Tour Operator to Asia and Australasia
- A Specialist Award for Best Adult Only Tour Operator
- Silver Award for Best Tour Operator to Central and South America
- Bronze Award for Best Tour Operator across Africa and Middle East

The seven accolades above were awarded at the British Travel Awards, which was presented by Denise Lewis, former British heptathlon Gold Medallist and former 'Strictly Come Dancing' star. All awards were voted for by customers and therefore represent a genuine vote of confidence in Kuoni's products and service, which include Caribbean holiday and Maldives holiday packages.

Kuoni also received the award for 'Long Tour Operator of the year to the Indian Ocean', which was awarded at the Travel Agent Choice awards.

In response to the award wins, Derek Jones, Managing Director of Kuoni UK, said: "I want to thank everyone at Kuoni for the parts they have played in helping us to gain this level of recognition from agents and customers alike. It is a testament to how committed and enthusiastic our staffs are in helping the industry sell with the best support possible from Kuoni, and to ensuring the travelling public enjoy their travels to the maximum."

- Ends -

Kuoni UK offers holidays in a number of locations, including holidays in Mauritius, holidays in Dubai, and holidays in Thailand. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni presents the weather programme on Monocle 24 Radio

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:46:50 GMT

Kuoni, the leading global travel service provider, exclusively presents the weather as part of the new radio station from the global affairs magazine Monocle - M24. Both passionate about quality and the zeitgeist, Kuoni and Monocle have formed a new partnership aimed at today's most discerning listeners and travellers. The weather forecast on Monocle 24 provides reports for the world's most important lifestyle centres and holiday destinations, appealing directly to Kuoni customers and travellers who are always on the move within these hotspots.

Monocle 24 is a new radio station from Monocle, the leading international magazine for all globally-minded people who are interested in the most important latest developments in design, fashion, business, culture, travel and global affairs. It offers a number of live shows about culture, city life, design, architecture, fashion and innovative entrepreneurship. On top of this, there is a carefully-selected line-up of music, news and weather reports around the clock. Like the magazine, the station addresses diverse and relevant global affairs topics for an international audience.

"We wanted to build a unique mix of smart talk, truly global news and a great soundtrack to live your day and night by," says Monocle editor in chief, Tyler Brûlé. "Like the magazine, it will be knowing and witty, hard hitting, and off beat."

Kuoni presents the weather forecast exclusively on Monocle 24, which is broadcast throughout the day as individual reports. The programme provides information about the world's most important lifestyle centres and travel destinations and is aimed at listeners for whom travel between today's hotspots is part and parcel of everyday life.

With Monocle, Kuoni has teamed up with a partner that appeals to the same target market - people who demand the very best in terms of quality and appreciate services that not only correspond to their very own lifestyle, but that are also in keeping with the times. Kuoni Concierge at the Bellevue in Zurich creates personalised, high quality holidays especially for these customers.

Remo Masala, Chief Branding & Marketing Officer for the Kuoni Group, explained that the most discerning travellers, who will be in Tokyo tomorrow and New York the day after, as well as those who want to spontaneously get away from it all on the other side of the planet can find out what the weather will be doing in an informative and entertaining way. Masala said: "What's more, Kuoni Concierge also gets them there with exceptional tailor-made solutions that create a new and unique approach to travel."

About Kuoni Group:
The Kuoni Group is one of the world's leading globally-active travel service providers, with a worldwide workforce of 8 772 (full-time equivalent) employees and consolidated turnover of CHF 3 984 million in 2010. Kuoni's activities are focused on its core leisure travel and destination management businesses. The head office of Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. is in Zurich, Switzerland, where Alfred Kuoni founded the company back in 1906. The Kuoni Group has steadily and systematically developed its position in the world travel market over the years and has branch operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, India, Middle East, North America, South America and Oceania.

Kuoni UK offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including Sri Lanka holidays, Maldives holidays, Dubai holidays, and Thailand holidays. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni announces new Outbound Europe division

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:36:21 GMT

The Kuoni Group has announced a new operational structure following the recent acquisition of GTA. All European tour operating arms of the Kuoni Group will now operate under a new division called "Outbound Europe".

This means that Kuoni UK is now truly embedded in a pan-European Kuoni Group structure. This new organisation supports Kuoni's aim to offer start to end seamless service for its customers, positioning itself as a trusted travel advisor and knowledgeable destination insider. The ability to share Kuoni Group knowledge and support services means the UK arm is given even more muscle in the market.

This new division consists of: Outbound Kuoni Nordic, Outbound Kuoni Europe sales unit, a new Online/Mobile unit and procurement and production unit.

Outbound Europe is headed by Group Executive Board member Leif Vase Larsen while Outbound Kuoni Nordic is led by Mats Dahlquist. Mats' unit consists of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland’s sales units.

The Outbound Kuoni Europe unit comprises Switzerland, UK and France’s sales units and a new Southern Europe & Benelux sub-unit, comprising Italy, Spain and Benelux. The UK division will be led by Derek Jones as new Managing Director Kuoni UK - a promotion from his previous role as VP Distribution & Operations.

The Procurement & Production unit is now headed by Joanna Edmunds who has been promoted from Managing Director Kuoni UK. This unit is the backbone of the Kuoni tour operations as it is responsible for all purchasing and production activities for both the Apollo and Kuoni brands in Europe.

Joanna Edmunds said: "By consistently bundling these activities and aligning product development initiatives more closely, we will be able to generate significant further synergies within our European tour operating business, strengthen our buying position and improve the product and service offerings to our customers."

The newly-created Online & Mobile unit is responsible for all websites at the business-to-customer (B2C) interface. The unit is also home to Group Distribution online activities and to the B2C business of Octopus Travel, which was acquired with the purchase of GTA. Online & Mobile is additionally responsible for developing and utilising new internet and mobile communications.

"In establishing the organisation of Outbound Europe, we are striving to promptly assign the corresponding responsibilities - partly to help us focus on our day-to-day business and our annual objectives as swiftly as possible, and partly to promote the further development and refinement of our new division," says Group Executive Board member Leif Vase Larsen. "These actions should enable us to achieve our overall aim of sustainably and profitably positioning our European tour operating business."

Kuoni UK offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including Maldives Holidays, Thailand Holidays and Safari Holidays and locations for honeymoons and other events. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni Group undergoes 'logical' reorganisation

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:49:21 GMT

Kuoni Group has reorganised its business into three new "logical" divisions.

Under the new structure "various business units grouped organisationally according to their business models, activities, geographical spread, growth prospects, customer portfolios and management requirements", explained a statement.

The reorganisation follows the acquisition of Gullivers' Travel Associates (GTA) in May 201 and a three-year investment programme which ends in 2011.

In operation from October 1st, the new structure will consist of a European tour operating business, called Outbound Europe, headed by Leif Vase Larsen; a business-to-business, tour and meetings and incentives division, called Global Travel Services, headed by Rolf Schafroth; and an Emerging Markets and Specialists division, headed by Stefan Leser.

Peter Rothwell, chief executive of Kuoni Group said: "Combining our various business activities all over the world into three new divisions is a logical consequence of our growth strategy, our acquisition activity and a result of our investment and cost-reduction programme.

"Following the acquisition of GTA, Kuoni is fast developing into a diversified global travel group with strong activities in Asia."

"Our updated group structure will enable us to better position our existing tour operating businesses and take full advantage of cross border and cross company synergies.

"At the same time, it will equip us to accelerate our development of those activities - especially our Asian business - that have strong growth credentials."

Global functional units, such as finance, IT, HR and corporate communications, will continue to report directly to Peter Rothwell.

About Kuoni Group:
The Kuoni Group is one of the world’s leading globally-active leisure and destination management travel organisations, with a worldwide workforce of 8 772 (full-time equivalent) employees and consolidated turnover of CHF 3 984 million in 2010. Kuoni’s activities are focused on its core leisure travel and destination management businesses. The head office of Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd. is in Zurich, Switzerland, where Alfred Kuoni founded the company back in 1906. The Kuoni Group has steadily and systematically developed its position in the world travel market over the years and has branch operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, India, Middle East, North America, South America and Oceania.

Kuoni UK offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, with a host of Maldives holidays, Thailand holidays, USA holidays and Bali holidays. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Quality is an integral part of companies like Kuoni who are aiming at the luxury market, however Kuoni in the UK has recently launched its 'smart' holidays - a collection of three to four-star holidays that have been handpicked and designed to give customers more holiday for their money.

Kuoni launches ananea

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:35:23 GMT

Kuoni has announced the launch of its brand new environmentally responsible travel offering, ananea.

These holidays are for those who want to book ethical travel and it underpins the company's long-term credentials as a responsible and sustainable travel company.

The holidays available under the ananea brand - a word that derives from the ancient Greek word for renewal - are available only via an e-brochure. The new style, page turning e-brochure features video streaming and stunning slide shows. The trips within the brochure provide respectful, authentic and responsible travel experiences, from jungle hideaways to volunteering trips, from tours way off the beaten track to indulgent luxury escapes.

Holidaymakers can relax in one of the 21 carefully chosen hotels around the world, many of them being lavish retreats that meet the highest standards of sustainable tourism and fair employment, from Italy holidays and Morocco to the Maldives, Costa Rica and Kenya. Hotels such as the Sextantio Albergo Diffuso regenerated the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in Abruzzo's snow-capped Apennine Mountains.

Customers can also enjoy ethical touring and unforgettable experiences such as private access to key projects on an exclusive Born Free Kenya safari or a fascinating insight into self-sufficiency in a Sri Lankan village. Travellers can learn how Vietnam's people have been scarred by war and contamination in moving and inspirational visits with Green Cross or take a self-drive tour of South Africa's Garden Route, staying at Fair Trade lodges.

Joanna Edmunds, Kuoni UK MD commented: "At a recent event at the Royal Opera House, we had Will Travers amongst our expert panel of speakers. Will is the son of Virginia McKenna and he now runs Born Free. He spoke about the support Kuoni has given Born Free over the years and in particular covered some of the projects which were funded by the centenary Cape to Cairo tour which celebrated Kuoni's 100th birthday. All the profits of that wonderful trip went to Born Free and it was incredibly inspiring to hear what a difference this money had made. Born Free is also a key partner for ananea, our new range of sustainable hotels, tours and volunteering."

The third ananea element is volunteering, which adds a new dimension to travel. From climate change to endangered animals, customers can contribute in a small way to change the world for the better by working on projects such as Volunteers Without Borders in Thailand, teaching English to village children, helping with building projects and assisting the development of eco-tourism projects. By booking one of these volunteering projects, customers are actively supporting non-profit organisations, their research, the wildlife and people within the communities.

"The concept of ananea is all about unforgettable experiences, sustainability and respectful travel," explained Dagmar Marrocco, Market Manager for Kuoni. "People want to go on holiday and learn about the community and give something back. These are holidays for those whose urge to preserve is as strong as their desire to discover. It's part of our mission to be a socially and environmentally aware tour operator."

About Kuoni:
Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, with a host of Cuba holidays, Egypt holidays, USA holidays and Bali holidays. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Quality is an integral part of companies like Kuoni who are aiming at the luxury market, however Kuoni has recently launched its 'smart' holidays - a collection of three to four-star holidays that have been handpicked and designed to give customers more holiday for their money.

Kuoni launches ananea

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:46:10 GMT

Kuoni has announced the launch of its brand new environmentally responsible travel offering, ananea.

These holidays are for those who want to book ethical travel and it underpins the company's long-term credentials as a responsible and sustainable travel company.

Kuoni reveals surge of five-star Cuba bookings

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:57:58 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury travel group, has announced that despite recessionary times, it is experiencing a surge of interest by holiday makers choosing to travel to Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest island. This fascinating, historic destination has seen an increase in bookings by some 25% when compared to 2010.

There is also increasing demand for luxury accommodation with travellers opting for five star properties above other hotel grades. Current figures show almost half of all Cuba bookings were in five-star properties, up 53% on last year.

Responding to this trend, Kuoni have introduced a brand new five star property opening in November 2011. Melia Buenavista Royal Service & Spa set on the tropical paradise island of Cayo Santa Maria, with impressive dive sites and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as a backdrop.

The resort is perfect for couples and honeymooners. This adults-only, all suite resort offers guests a complimentary 25-minute massage and a hydrothermal circuit in the hotel’s grand spa, seductive rooms, butler service and late check-out. The hotel also offers an all inclusive plan, which gives guests the reassurance of knowing everything is paid for.

The Cuban city of Havana is a romantic and atmospheric World Heritage Site, where time appears to have stood still since the 1950’s. It's perhaps appropriate on a Cuba holiday to be picked-up on arrival, in a vintage fifties car, and taken to the hotel in style. Cuba is also known for its rich forests, waterfalls, breathtaking beaches and wildlife.

Cuba can be found in the pages of the new Mexico and Caribbean brochure, which can be downloaded from the Kuoni website.

Ends

About Kuoni:
Kuoni Travel LTD is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won't be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni has professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.

Founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906, Kuoni Travel has grown into not only the largest travel company in Switzerland, but also one of the leading travel organisations in the world.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, with a host of Cuba holidays, Egypt holidays, USA holidays and Bali holidays. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni scores joint top place in the recent Which? survey

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:02:42 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury travel company, has announced it scored joint top place with a customer satisfaction score of 80% in the recent Which? Top 20 Travel Companies survey.

Which?, the consumer organisation famous for its impartial product reviews and ratings, surveyed nearly 10,000 people who travelled on holiday over the last two years. Trailfinders also scored 80% in the overall rankings making it joint winners with Kuoni.

Customers were asked to rate the holiday companies based on overall organisation, customer service, value for money, accommodation and journey. These scores were then used to calculate the travel company's overall score.

Joanna Edmunds, Kuoni UK MD said, "I am absolutely delighted that Which? readers have voted Kuoni joint first place. Kuoni was liked for 'being reliable and having excellent customer care'. When rating beach holidays specifically our score increased to 84%, again top of the league. I am firmly of the view that it is this willingness to go the extra mile for customers, which will have contributed to our high score."

Kuoni was also voted the best UK travel brand in the TNS 'Most Trusted Travel Brand' list and Kuoni was shortlisted for the Which? awards, in the Best Travel Company category, which took place on 23rd June 2011.

The Which? Top Travel Companies survey and the results can be viewed on the Which? website.

Founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906, Kuoni Travel has grown into not only the largest travel company in Switzerland, but also one of the leading travel organisations in the world.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, with a host of Dubai holidays, Mauritius holidays and St Lucia holidays. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni wins Daily Telegraph Ultratravel award for Best Large Luxury Tour Operator

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:50:00 GMT

Kuoni, leading travel specialist, has won the prestigious ULTRA (Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Award) for Best Large Luxury Tour Operator at the Daily Telegraph's Ultratravel Awards for the fifth consecutive year, as voted by the readers of the Daily Telegraph's Ultratravel magazine.

The awards, hosted by Telegraph Travel Editor Graham Boynton, were held on Monday 16th May at London's Savoy Hotel and were supported by a host of 'Help for Heroes' celebrities, which included venerated heroes such as the oldest living spitfire pilot and the widow of an incredible bomb disposal expert who saved many, many lives.

Commenting on the win, Kuoni UK MD, Joanna Edmunds said; "I thoroughly enjoyed the Ultratravel Awards ceremony which was very moving and very humbling. Whilst our work may not be in quite the same league I am incredibly proud that we have been voted Number One once again by the Telegraph's readers. It is a real testament to all of our staff's hard work, care and attention".

Each year the Ultra's raise money for a specific charity and this year the awards will be helping to support the 'Help for Heroes' charity with its efforts to provide grants that aim to provide practical direct support for wounded UK military servicemen and women. At the recent event at the Savoy in London, guests were fortunate to meet some of these heroes and hear their stories.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni Travel LTD is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won't be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni have professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.

Founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906, Kuoni Travel has grown into not only the largest travel company in Switzerland, but also one of the leading travel organisations in the world. Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, with a host of holidays in Maldives, holidays in Thailand, Mauritius holidays and St Lucia holidays, as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni and World Market Travel celebrate their new relationship

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:21:48 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury travel brand, has announced it is now represented by World Market Travel, a leading Independent travel agency in Bath.

The new relationship was officially announced at the launch event held in April at the elegant Roman Baths, where guests were treated to a tour of the museum followed by drinks, canapés, and a string quartet.

Just under 200 guests attended the event including Joanna Edmunds, Kuoni UK Managing Director, Derek Jones, Kuoni UK Distribution Director, and Tim and Peter Giles, joint owners of the World Market Travel store.

A guest at the event commented: "I would like to express our thanks and appreciation for a most splendid and enjoyable evening.

"The choice of venue was absolutely superb and you could not have chosen a better setting to mark this very special occasion. It was a pleasure to mix with other clients of World Market Travel and to learn from their travel experiences and in particular to appreciate the high regard they have for the store and staff."

Sponsors of the event included Hilton Worldwide, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Canada Tourist Board, YTL Hotels, AAT Kings, Orion Cruises and Qantas.

With World Market Travel representing the tour operator, Kuoni has given the store a face lift. The store has a brand new chic interior, offering a comfortable and relaxing environment for customers to browse the range of holidays on offer, which include Antigua holidays and Barbados holidays.

World Market Travel is the first independent travel agency that Kuoni will partner this year, creating dual-branded shops in locations where the operator does not have high street shops.

Notes to Editors:
For images please contact the Kuoni PR department.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won't be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni have professional ground agents and English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including a range of all-inclusive Maldives holidays, holidays to Thailand and luxury holidays as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

About World Market Travel:
World Market Travel is one of the UK's leading independent travel agencies based in Bath and is personally owned and operated by brothers Peter & Tim Giles. The office is managed by Peter's son Steve Giles who together with a team of travel experts can offer impartial advice on all aspects of planning holidays.

World Market Travel are appointed agents for all major airlines and have discounted airfares with over 50 carriers including Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Continental and Air New Zealand. It has the largest selection of discounted flights in the centre of Bath.

Kuoni launches its 'smart' holidays online

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:34:22 GMT

Kuoni, the specialist operator, has launched 'smart' by Kuoni, a collection of three to four-star holidays that have been handpicked and designed to give customers more holiday for their money.

The value range is the 'smart'er choice for those looking for a great holiday in a fantastic location that doesn't have to break the bank. And customers can still expect great value holidays with the same award-winning service that Kuoni is renowned for. Each hotel or resort has been handpicked by Kuoni to fit with the 'smart' by Kuoni profile.

The collection includes long-haul destinations throughout the Far East, India, Indian Ocean, North Africa & Middle East, Caribbean, Africa and Short-haul to Europe.

Highlights include a wide range of value products for Sri Lanka and Thailand holidays, such as Krabi, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket. 'smart' by Kuoni hotels and resorts can also be found for Maldives holidays, which is Kuoni's number one holiday destination.

The properties will be identified as 'smart' hotels on the web (a black bar on the right with a red roundel) and in future brochures. Kuoni are launching 'smart' with this collection, which currently includes 38 handpicked hotels, and will be expanded as even more value holidays become available.

The 'smart' by Kuoni product range is available now on the Kuoni website and more information can be found on the microsite or through the special offers page where properties can be selected using the "'smart' by Kuoni" hotel style filter and then segmented further by destination, departure date and many other options.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including a range of all inclusive Maldives holidays, Egypt holidays and luxury holidays as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni report shows how different British holidaymakers behave when on holiday

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:43:09 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury tour operator, has published its latest report on how different British holidaymakers behave abroad, with revealing some results.

According to the survey, Liverpudlians have more sex on holiday, Londoners most dislike body odour, holidaymakers from Sheffield buy the most new clothes for their holidays, child-free couples fret over litter and Brummies abstain from drinking alcohol.

The Kuoni Holiday Report 2011is part of the company's strategy of getting closer to its customers by understanding them better. The report looks at behaviour before, during and after a holiday, including eating and spending preferences, manners, etiquette, holiday romance and sexual habits.

Despite the regional variations highlighted throughout the report, what unifies the research is how different British holidaymakers behave when on holiday. Escaping from their every day routines, the Brits discard their regular persona and… eat less healthily, exercise less, drink more, dress more provocatively, expect more sex and in more adventurous places and spend more money.

In short, Brits lose their inhibitions on holiday, whether aged 25 or 65. Over half do things out of character – such as drink more alcohol - and feel liberated by the fact that no-one knows who they are.

Christine Webber, psychotherapist and health writer and broadcaster, said:

"Times are really tough for most people in the UK at the moment, so it’s a small wonder that people want to let off steam on holiday.

"It's particularly interesting to me that some respondents actually enjoy adopting a whole new persona on holiday. It's as if they're conducting an experiment, which might lead to real change at a later date. In the midst of our busy lives, we often fantasise about embracing a completely different lifestyle, or becoming a different sort of person, and it seems as if holidays allow us to flirt with the sort of changes we dream about.

"Luxury holidays are great times to reconnect with the person we love, and to remind each other of the importance of romance and closeness.

"Many of us have no option but to work flat-out these days if we are to hold onto our jobs. But this can turn us into dull, stressed-out, irritable and terribly tired individuals. By taking a holiday, we restore balance and sanity into our lives. We have time to think and we have time to just chill."

The full report is available from www.kuoni.co.uk/holidayreport

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations,
including a range of all inclusive Maldives holidays and Kenya safaris as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni sale campaign gets a new social twist

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:29:43 GMT

Kuoni's 'We Know What You're Thinking' Sale campaign is taking a new twist as it enters a 'social' phase and the luxury tour operator will be asking customers to tell them exactly what they're thinking.

Kuoni will be challenging its customers to come up with amusing lines for different themes over the coming weeks to see if they can better its own offerings such as: The Kuoni 'I'm sorry I got you such a dreadful Christmas present I hope you'll forgive me' Sale or The Kuoni 'I want to broaden my mind not permanently shrink my bank balance' Sale.

The first week of the new social campaign has kicked off with Kuoni luxury holidays asking its customers to describe in less than 20 words why they are desperate to escape the UK for warmer shores now.

Entries for the competition can be made through the Kuoni Facebook page, via Twitter by using the hashtag #kuonisale or through the Kuoni website.

The wittiest and most creative lines which are provided each week will then be featured on the Kuoni website and the contributor will win an Amazon Kindle 3G along with a £10 voucher to enable the winner to stock up on their holiday reading. There will also be one lucky overall winner from the 3 week competition who will be announced on the 21st of February. This person will win a 4 night holiday to Dubai at the Atlantis The Palm and their winning line will be featured in Kuoni's last weekend of advertising before the sale ends on 28th February.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including a range of all inclusive Maldives holidays, Thailand holidays and Kenya safaris as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni launches its 'We know what you’re thinking' sale campaign

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:29:39 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury tour operator, has launched its innovative 'We know what you’re thinking' marketing campaign, injecting personality into the search by travellers for a break away from the UK’s winter gloom.

Kuoni's luxury holidays offer premium service, destination insight and affordability as well as allowing customers to enjoy savings of up to 40%, plus an additional 5% discount online.

To convey this message in an engaging way, the tour operator has designed a campaign that resonates with customer sentiment and needs as they think about planning their time away from it all. Some of the messages include 'Re-charge your batteries without being charged the earth'; 'Mind, body and soul breaks that are good for your wallet, purse and credit card' and 'I want to broaden my mind not permanently shrink my bank balance'.

The messages reflect the fact that many people have less to spend in today's modern society and are seeking better value for money in the luxury market.

Kuoni has invested in media across the marketing mix to communicate to customers at various touch points including the company's retail stores, the Internet, press advertising, outdoor and radio.

A wide range of holidays are on offer, designed to suit a variety of needs: customers can relax and soak up sun on Maldives holidays; indulge in spa therapy in St Lucia, Thailand or Oman; sign up for adventure in Malaysia, India Peru or Marrakech; encounter game on safari holidays in Kenya; tour around Sri Lanka and much more.

The Kuoni retail stores, which are situated around the UK, are also getting into the sale spirit. Personal travel experts are wearing specially designed shirts are promoting the campaign while large plasma screens show short films of the holidays on offer. Creative window displays will also entice shoppers in-store to avoid the British weather.

To reflect the increasing use of mobile phones to research holidays, Kuoni has also included QR codes in their press advertising. iPhone users will be able to scan the code to download Kuoni's new, innovative and interactive iPhone app and then check out the latest sale offers.

For the latest luxury holiday offers, travellers can visit the Kuoni website.

Kuoni offers luxury holidays in a number of beautiful locations, including a range of all inclusive Maldives holidays, Dubai holidays and Kenya safaris as well as a host of memorable experiences such as brewing coffee at ancient Brazilian fazendas, tracking chimpanzees in the wilds of Tanzania and salsa dancing in Havana. The company's Authentic Experiences enable travellers to do as the locals do or learn from experts in their field.

Kuoni launches new Italy holidays brochure for 2011

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:20:33 GMT

Kuoni, the luxury holiday specialist, recently launched its all new brochure for 2011 holidays in Italy. In its pages, readers will find quintessential Italian experiences ranging from cookery lessons in Tuscany and visits to Lake Como to zooming round the countryside in a Maserati and climbing up Mount Etna.

These experiences prove that La Dolce Vita is thriving in our Italy holidays with a selection of colourful activities on offer in Kuoni’s latest Italy brochure, which is valid between January and December 2011.

"From city breaks and glorious Italian lake holidays, to stunning coastline and rural retreats in Tuscany, our Italian brochure reflects the fantastic breadth of the country, pushing outside the usual realms of fashion, food and drink," said Sheena Paton, Kuoni UK Market Manager for Europe.

Highlights from the new brochure include new hotels, such as the 14th century manor house, Relais Histo, in Alberobello, the stunning and tiny Hotel In Pietra in Matera converted from a 12th century church and the beautiful five-star Tuscan Villa le Maschere with wellness area, lake and expansive park.

Unsurpassed experiences that get beneath the skin of the country also feature in the new brochure, including an afternoon at the twice-yearly Palio in Siena, the most famous bareback horserace with colourful pageant of costumed flag wavers. Prices include a private guided tour of Sienna and seats in the balcony or stalls. Travellers can also venture through Venice along the famous Grand Canal by gondola, complete with singing gondolier.

The new brochure also highlights full day tours of Rome, from the awe-inspiring colosseum, Roman Forum, St Peter’s Basilica and Trevi Fountain to the glamorous Via Veneto, the River Tiber, Villa Borghese and Palace of Justice.

About Kuoni
Kuoni is ABTA and ATOL protected, giving customers financial protection and ensuring they won't be stranded abroad. Customers are safe in the knowledge that while they are abroad, Kuoni have professional ground agents & English speaking guides to ensure they have an enjoyable stay.

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