‘Strong appetite for package holidays’, says rebranded Kuoni parent

Ingo Burmester, Dertour Group chief executive central Europe, said the rebrand underpinned the group’s ambition "to take a leading role in the international travel and tourism market". "We want to become more visible as one strong group, especially at the travel destinations," he added.

The group currently encompasses 130 companies and brands, employing more than 9,000 people. Leif Vase Larsen, Dertour Group chief executive international, said the group was bullish about its prospects in the year ahead after a strong 2023. "We saw a strong appetite for package holidays across markets with a European-wide trend towards higher-quality holidays," he said.

Total group revenue increased by 23% year-on-year in 2023 following a 10% increase in European guest numbers and an increase in average holiday durations to 8.1 days – a day longer than the average in 2019.

Burmester said 2024 had got off to a strong start too, "reflecting renewed traveller confidence". "After a year of robust travel gains, we are noticing the pent-up demand for travel shows no signs of waning," he said. "Consumers remain highly enthusiastic about travel and are seeking the benefits of early bookings and their appealing prices."

Emerging trends the group has identified include almost a third of Dertour’s European guests opting for five-star hotels, although Vase Larsen said guests’ pursuit of luxury extended to prioritising nature-based experiences, wellbeing breaks and immersing themselves in local cultures.

"In our markets, we see trends ranging from sports and outdoor travel to immersive holiday experiences – demonstrating an overall growing preference for more individual and unique travel," he added.