T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T

HOW WE PL AN, E XPERIENCE AND SHARE OUR T R AV EL S

T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T

I nt roduc t ionFor mor e t h a n 50 ye a r s Kuon i h a s b e e n a t t he for e f r ont of t he pr e m i u m t r ave l m a r ke t a nd , a s a r e s u lt , i s a r e g u l a r a nd r e l i a ble b a r ome t e r on pr e m i u m t r ave l t r e nd s a r o u nd t he wor ld . A s p a r t of DE R To u r i s t i k , one of E u r o p e ’s b i g ge s t t r ave l g r o up s , t he Kuon i br a nd i s t h r i v i n g a nd e volv i n g i n t he U K m a r ke t .

I n t h i s r e p or t we lo ok b a c k a t t he p a s t 1 2 mont h s a nd a he a d t o 2019 t o s e e w h a t ’s s h api n g t he w ay we pl a n , e x p e r ie nc e a nd s h a r e o u r hol id ay s .

Uncertainty for travellers around Brexit and the well documented

challenges of the high street have dominated the news agenda.

Whilst economic uncertainty, currency fluctuations and transport

disruption always create jitters, this report shows that demand for

premium holidays, particularly to Kuoni’s core long-haul destinations

remains solid.

Whilst Britain’s exit from the EU will make 2019 a year like no other

for the travel industry, this report indicates that holidays are not

something that people will forgo easily. January remains the peak

booking month for travel, but there’s a strong indication that in

2019 we will see holiday sales more evenly spread throughout the

year as people wait to understand more about what exiting the EU

really means.

Despite transformational technology, there remains a growing thirst

for real expertise and advice. Conversations are still at the heart of

holidays from planning them to remembering them in the years that

follow. Real people play a vital role in creating and selling travel,

something Kuoni continues to invest in.

T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T2 | T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T | 3

22 L o ok i n g a f t e r t he pl a c e s we love

10 Ne w a nd no t e wor t hy

20 W ho we t r ave l w it h

4 How p e o ple s ho p for hol id ay s i s c h a n g i n g

6 To p 25 d e s t i n a t ion s

8 S p o t l i g ht on t he t o p t e n

16 T he wor ld c l a s s r o om

14 B e s t w ay s t o s e e t he wor ld

12 Ne w a nd no t e wor t hy

4 | T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T

How people SHOP for holidays is changing

N E W S TO R E S , N E W D E S I G N S

Kuoni at Peter Jones, Sloane Square and at John Lewis White City

opened last year and the next outlet will be at John Lewis, Trafford

Centre in February 2019. Refreshed designs and interiors have

added new energy to Kuoni stores in Bluewater and Solihull and

more than 10 stores will be revamped this year.

CL I CK A N D CO N N EC T

Nearly everyone planning a

Kuoni holiday starts online.

Yet navigating the plethora of

search results for a special trip is

complicated, which is why Kuoni

has further developed its “click

and connect” strategy. Over

the past 12 months, Kuoni has

made significant advances to

its online expert finder, making

it much easier for people to be

connected to a specialist who

has detailed knowledge of the

destination which ultimately

results in the right holiday

for them.

PA R T N ER T R AV EL AG EN T S

Trusted independent

travel agents are thriving,

particularly for luxury and

specialist travel, with Kuoni

reporting a 22% increase

in sales through travel

agents since last year. Kuoni

continues to invest in selling

holidays through hundreds

of good independent agents

throughout the UK and has

particularly close ties with

11 businesses, which look and

feel like an extension of the

Kuoni brand.

R E TA I L T H E AT R E

The buzz word in travel is

experiential and that also

extends to shopping trends.

Last year Kuoni hosted more

than 500 people taking part

in cookery classes, author

events, summer theatre at

Chichester Festival Theatre

and live Q&A sessions

with Anita Rani – travel is

increasingly a lifestyle and

finding creative ways to

engage people with the brand

is part of the future of how

we shop.

O N LO C AT I O N

The so called “experience-economy” is driving a reinvention of

the shopping experience. The rise of lifestyle events and festivals

continues, with one of the most visited shows of 2018 being BBC

Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace. Through presence at live

leisure events throughout the UK, the Kuoni brand reached more

than 350,000 people. Kuoni will up its attendance at events in

2019 in line with the growth in live leisure experiences, with

more than 60 travel experts getting out of the stores and being

in places where people are actively looking for new ideas and

inspiration.

T R AV ELL IN G T H E WO R L D

390 Kuoni travel experts

are set to visit more than 30

destinations this year to stay

at the forefront of worldwide

travel trends. The past year

has seen travel experts visit

top selling destinations such

as the Maldives, Sri Lanka,

Seychelles, Thailand and Bali,

as well as India, South Africa,

Canada, Jordan, California and

the Galapagos Islands. Seeing

places first hand is a vital

part of what makes Kuoni

stand out – customers value

knowledge and expertise

more than ever.

A DECADE on the high Street

2008

Kuoni opens the first of its new-style travel shops in Kensington High Street

2011

First travel agent partner store opened in Bath

2012

First John Lewis concession, at John Lewis Southampton

2018

Kuoni within 18 branches of John Lewis and Partners

2019

New Kuoni at John Lewis, Trafford Centre opens Friday 22 February

Total of 49 Kuoni outlets, including 19 within John Lewis & Partners

11 partner travel agency stores throughout the UK

S IMO N R EE V E O N TO U R

As a partner of Simon

Reeve’s UK theatre show

in 2018, which attracted

more than 47,000 people,

Kuoni continues its long-

term partnership with the

BBC presenter. Thousands of

viewers watched his travels

to Russia, the Mediterranean

and Burma, which show the

light and shade of places

around the world.

N E W FA MO U S FACE

Television presenter Anita Rani has

become a Kuoni ambassador and has

joined forces with Kuoni to create a

series of live events based around

her own travel adventures. As well as

hosting events for customers in stores

she’s just returned from Sri Lanka,

with the purpose of creating a series

of short films championing authentic

and responsible travel.

CO FFEE , T E A A N D PRO S ECCO

In 2019 Kuoni broke its record and served more than 108,000

shots of Nespresso coffee and Indian tea company cuppas

combined, plus 11,160 glasses of Prosecco! The fridges are full

and the kettle’s on for 2019…

LG B T S PECI A L I S T S

People increasingly turn to Kuoni for specialist advice.

Particularly valued are the team of LGBT experts, who planned

honeymoons, weddings and special trips for a record number of

same sex couples and families. LGBT honeymoons are up 34%

year on year.

6 | T H E K U O N I W O R L D W I D E T R AV E L R E P O R T

TOP 25 destinations

1 M A L D I V E S

2 S R I L A N K A

3 T H A I L A N D

4 M AU R I T I U S

5 U S A

6 B A L I

7 I TA LY

8 I N D I A

9 V I E T N A M

10 S O U T H A F R I C A

11 K E N YA

12 A N T I G UA

13 AU S T R A L I A

14 S A I N T LU C I A

15 B A R B A D O S

16 N E W Z E A L A N D

17 C A N A DA

18 M E X I CO

19 UA E

20 TA N Z A N I A

21 S E YC H E L L E S

22 M A L AY S I A

23 G R E EC E

24 J A PA N

25 CU B A

Maldives

N E W Z E A L A N D

S E YCH ELLE S

IN D I A

J A PA N

S A IN T LU CI A

K EN YA

TA NZ A NI A

#16

#20

#21

No change

in the top

seven destinations

Seven countries

have moved up,

seven countries have

moved down

Japan into the

top 25 for the first

time at #24

Spain dropped

out of the

top 25 to #28

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K U O N I S E L L S M O R E T H A N 9 0 D E S T I N AT I O N S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D

The top 25 list is based on those destinations which have seen the highest booking numbers for 2019 holidays at the time of going to press.

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Sandies Bathala, artist impression

Sri Lanka

South Africa

O u r be st per for mer s a re s t i l l s t ron g for 2019

Spotlight on the TOP TEN

1 M A L D I V E S

Retaining its number one spot for the 16th year running, the

Maldives delivers a level of luxury that was unheard of a generation

ago. The destination saw an overall 10.2% increase in UK visitor

numbers last year. With 20 properties due to open over the next

two years and a second runway on Male scheduled to open this year,

2019 looks set for continued growth. Much of the hotel development

is at the top end, but the newly renovated Sandies Bathala helps

Kuoni to balance its programme – the 300m-wide speck in the Ari

Atoll is on trend with its simple slice of Maldivian charm making it a

popular choice for affordable luxury in 2019.

2 S R I L A N K A

Sri Lanka packs a lot of variety into a single island, which helps

explain its continued popularity. The British market already

accounts for 254,000 out of an annual 2.3m visitors; a growth of

26% since 2017. Kuoni bookings for 2019 are 8% ahead of last

year, with private car and driver itineraries generating much of the

demand. Just over half (53%) of Kuoni bookings are for multi-centre

itineraries with private drivers.

3 T H A I L A N D

Still the most popular Far

East destination for Kuoni,

Thailand remains in number

three position for another

year running with consistently

strong sales. Demand is

growing for some of the less

traditional areas and smaller

islands such as Khao Lak

and Koh Lanta, which are up

50% and 22% respectively.

Affordability on the ground

is another reason Thailand

continues to perform well.

Real cultural experiences such

as cycling tours, market visits

and local food are what Kuoni

travellers are looking for.

4 M AU R I T I U S

A pioneer of the barefoot

luxury trend, Mauritius is still

a firm favourite for weddings,

honeymoons, families and

couples. New investment

for 2019 and beyond should

keep it safely in the top five:

Preskil Island Resort makes a

welcome return to the Kuoni

programme following

a complete refit in 2018;

C Mauritius is open again

after an expansion and

renovation and Paradise Cove

Boutique Hotel has a full

refurbishment planned for

later this year.

5 U S A

The USA is a consistent

performer but gets a much-

needed boost this year from

airlines and hoteliers. Budget

carriers Wow and Norwegian

helped spark interest in

secondary cities and now the

premium market welcomes

British Airways flights into

Charleston and Pittsburgh

from April. American Airlines

adds London-Phoenix in March

and Edinburgh-Philadelphia

in April and Delta is adding

Edinburgh-Boston in May.

Fly-drives are fuelling growth

for Kuoni with California and

New England leading the way.

7 I TA LY

Italy is still Kuoni’s best-selling short haul destination and the only

European entry in the top 10. The top three performing areas are

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, Lake Garda and Sardinia. There has

been expansion to the programme to places including Ischia which,

though small, is seeing strong demand for 2019 with sales up 95%.

8 IN D I A

At eighth position, India has risen two places up Kuoni’s top

10 with sales 4% ahead of last year. Dehli, Agra and Jaipur still

account for the lion’s share of business. Kuoni customers who have

‘done’ the Golden Triangle are returning to India to experience

other must-sees including the River Ganges and Varanasi, as well

as the lesser known national parks such as Bandhavgarh and

Kanha. The southerly Kerala region is increasingly popular for

those seeking a contrast to the north while first timers are treated

to a newly clean Taj Mahal, fresh from a two-year refurbishment.

9 V I E T N A M

Synonymous with adventure

and touring, Vietnam is

following Thailand into the

mainstream thanks to the

launch of direct flights in

2011, and great value on

the ground. The country has

slipped by one place in Kuoni’s

rankings though, but a new

flight from Bangkok to the

island of Phú Quoc – a popular

beach destination – could help

restore its fortunes.

10 S O U T H A FR I C A

Down one place from last

year, the classic safari

destination faces stiff

competition from East Africa:

Kenya is up from number 18

to 11 and Tanzania from 24

to 20. But South Africa sales

for 2019 are strong helped by

a new British Airways flight

to Durban. The country’s surf

capital is home to its best

beaches and its waterfront

has had a revamp in recent

years. Cape Town is still

popular, and drew praise

from around the world while

managing its water supply

crisis last summer. Among

other solutions, careful

rationing has shone a light on

sustainability issues.

Lake Garda

6 B A L I

Despite one of its toughest

years in memory, Indonesia,

specifically Bali, retains its

number six position. It’s

one of the top honeymoon

destinations, favoured not

only for its reliable climate

during the peak summer

honeymoon months, but

also the diverse landscapes

and variety of luxury hotels,

many with pool villas. Despite

earthquakes, aftershocks

and flooding creating 2018

headlines, it’s primarily a

summer destination for Kuoni

and so far forward bookings

appear to be unaffected, with

June sales to date up 33%.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Bali

River Ganges, Varanasi, India

Preskil Island Resort

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New and noteworthy

Beyond t he top 10 – W h at ’s t rend i n g

E A S T A FR I C A

Time will tell if the Nairobi hotel siege in January will impact

Kenya’s chance of success this year. Kenya and Tanzania both rose

through the rankings in 2018; up seven and four places respectively

and show no signs of slowing. Luxury camps, the wildebeest

migration, world heritage sites, national parks and the Big Five in

their natural surroundings make Kenya in particular a firm favourite

with Kuoni customers. Giraffe Manor’s appearance on Amazing

Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby and David Atenborough and the BBC’s

Dynasties series about the Marsh Pride in the Maasai Mara also

created renewed interest.

EG Y P T

Security fears have subsided

and replaced by a new-

found confidence in an old

favourite resulting in Egypt

rising seven places to 26th

position. Kuoni relaunched

its Egypt and North Africa

programme at the end of

2018, tying in popular

Moroccan destinations too,

and the response has been

encouraging. Nile River

Cruising is selling particularly

well, but the opportunity to

visit the Pyramids or tie in a

Red Sea break is especially

welcome. Sharm el Sheikh is

still off the map, but as far as

the rest of Egypt is concerned,

now is the time to go back. A JM A N

Dubai was practically unheard

of 20 years ago – much like

Ajman today – so this could

be one to watch. Next door

to Sharjah, Ajman has some

of the best beaches in the

UAE but is less expensive

than Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

“Ajman is a destination in its

own right, creating its own

identity. With spectacular

beaches, it’s proving more

than just a stopover.” says

Kuoni’s commercial director

Wendy Kenneally. “Quality

brands such as Oberoi, and

the Ajman Saray offer a good

value mid-haul beach break.”

I S R A EL

What is old is new again: the

Holy Land is hot for Spring,

with the launch of a dedicated

Israel programme. A first

for Kuoni as a standalone

brochure, it is a collection of

22 hotels in beach and

city destinations including

Tel Aviv, Eilat, Jerusalem and

the Dead Sea, with add on

locations in Jordan.

J A PA N

Rising three places, Japan has been making its way up the best-sellers list for the past

three years. Be it the Rugby World Cup, kicking off in Tokyo on September 20th, or

the ABTA convention following in October, Japan will be getting plenty of exposure

by the end of the year. That will only continue as Tokyo hosts the 2020 Olympic and

Paralympic Games. Sales to Japan are already up 74% year on year for Kuoni, and set

to remain strong thanks to a new British Airways flight to Osaka, taking off on March

31st. Known as Japan’s foodie capital, Osaka is only 35 minutes from Kobe and an

hour from Kyoto.

Pyramids, Cairo, Egypt

Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified, near Bethlehem, Israel

Oberoi, Ajman

B e yond t he t op 10 ,

some de s t i n at ion s a re se ei n g

s t r on g dem a nd

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S IN G A P O R E

Up seven places to number 29, Singapore enjoyed a publicity

boost from the movie Crazy Rich Asians and the BBC’s Amazing

Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. Giles Coren and Monica Galetti

visited the Marina Bay Sands – not quite as famous as Raffles

but certainly larger, employing around 9,500 people. Business is

booming for Kuoni, with longer stays becoming more common.

The publicity continues as the city state celebrates its 200th

anniversary this year. Experience it on Belmond’s Eastern &

Oriental Express to Bangkok, reintroduced to the programme

for 2019.

W E S T ER N AU S T R A L I A

A long flight is rarely the

greatest of sells – but the first

non-stop route from the UK to

Australia? It’s almost a badge

of honour. Qantas’ London-

Perth service which launched

last year is giving Western

Australia a well-deserved

boost as both a destination

in its own right as well as a

great value stop over before

heading on to the East Coast.

The Ningaloo Reef is every

bit as impressive as the Great

Barrier Reef, and Perth is a

good value gateway compared

with Sydney. Sales are

continuing to grow and are up

18% for 2019, definitely one

to watch.

G R EECE

At the premium end of the market, Greece is not just about sun,

but also culture and a certain amount of cool. Number two after

Italy in Kuoni’s Europe programme, Greece has seen vast luxury

hotel investment and was a big winner at the Conde Nast Traveller

Awards last year. Kuoni has expanded its programme with the

introduction of the Sporades Islands and new hotels in Athens, Crete

and Thessaloniki. Rhodes and Corfu are seeing an upturn, the latter

having benefitted greatly from ITV’s Sunday-evening hit, The Durrells.

T U R K E Y

While mainstream tour

operators report a return to

form for Turkey, for Kuoni

it has come back from a

standstill. For 2019, Istanbul

and Cappadocia have been

added to the programme.

Turkey has thousands of years

of culture to draw on, but

reliable sunshine and good

value premium hotels and

resorts have been critical

in winning back visitors

looking for a quality

short-haul holiday from the

western Med.

L AT IN A MER I C A

Mexico was the stand out success for Kuoni’s new sister company,

Journey Latin America in 2018, with new business doubling and the

sell-out Frida Kahlo exhibition at the V&A driving interest. Kuoni

bookings to Latin America saw significant growth in 2018 too, with

demand for tailor made itineraries group tours and stay and cruise

fuelling a 41% growth into the region. Peru regains its number one

spot with Ecuador fast on its tail with a 200% growth since 2017.

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

B e yond t he t op 10 ,

some de s t i n at ion s a re se ei n g

s t r on g dem a nd

Cappadocia, Turkey

Amirandes, Grecotel Exclusive Resort, Crete

Perth, Australia

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Get t ing around and seeing di f ferent perspect ives is par t of t he f un – whet her by rai l , ship, bi ke or motorhome people are being more creat ive about how t hey ex plore and immerse t hemselves in t heir sur roundings.

O C E A N L I N E R

A 12% increase for cruise

holidays booked by Kuoni last

year and many of these are

customers trying a cruise

for the first time. From

Antarctica to Japan, personal

travel experts at Kuoni

regularly recommend cruise

as one of the best ways to

see a destination.

R I V E R C RU I S E

Four new river cruise lines

were added to Kuoni’s

collection last year reflecting

increasing demand. More

like boutique floating hotels

than ships, river cruising

allows you to fully immerse

yourself in unique cultures

with the on-board dining

and entertainment often

reflecting the region that

you’re travelling through.

T R A I N

More than 25 Rail journeys in 12 countries

around the world can be booked with Kuoni

and there’s been a steady rise over the past

four years in itineraries featuring rail travel.

Travel by rail is becoming increasingly popular

as a method of travel within a wider tailor-

made itinerary or as part of a small group tour.

Some examples of where trains form a major

feature:

Kenya: On Kuoni’s Kenya and Beach Safari

guests can travel on the new Madaraka

Express linking the Kenya coast with the

capital travelling by some of Kenya’s most

famous national parks.

Japan: By Shinkansen (bullet train) or light

rail, public transport in Japan is punctual

to the second, offering an efficient way

to get around towns and cities giving you

the opportunity to experience life like a

local. These can be experienced on Kuoni’s

Essential Japan tour.

India: Kuoni features several rail itineraries

in India including luxury trains such as the

Maharajas’ Express and the Deccan Odyssey,

as well as the more authentic local services,

which you can use to travel between the

Indian cities. Luxury rail travel in India was up

15% last year and express rail was up 40%.

S E A P L A N E

Kuoni personal travel experts

booked 7,130 return seaplane

transfers in the Maldives

last year, with an increase

in the number of people

choosing a flight over a boat

transfer (64% upgraded),

specifically because they want

the experience.

M O T O R H O M E

From New Zealand to Canada,

trips in motorhomes were up

49% year on year. For 2019

Kuoni’s partner THL in New

Zealand is currently trialling

a new electric motorhome

and we now have more than

31 suggested itineraries

in Canada and the USA,

showcasing the best routes.

Best ways to see the world

S M A L L G R O U P T O U R S

There is a 13% increase in escorted

touring for 2019 with the top five selling

destinations being: 1. India, 2. Vietnam,

3. Sri Lanka, 4. Japan, 5. Kenya.

I N D I A

Listed at number eight in Kuoni’s top 10

destinations overall, there is an increasing

trend for travel beyond the iconic Taj Mahal

with interest in Kerala growing as people

are seeking out Southern India’s slower pace

and the popularity of shows such as The Real

Exotic Marigold Hotel filmed in the region.

K E N YA

East Africa is definitely growing in popularity

as customers seek out value for money with

wildlife adventures combined with a tropical

beach stay, offering the best of both worlds.

T H E FA R E A S T

There has been particular growth in Japan

(+16%) and Vietnam (+33%). Customers are

increasingly seeking authentic experiences

which this region offers in abundance.

+8%

+17%

+6%

Mor e t h a n 25 R a i l

j o u r ne y s i n 1 2 c o u nt r ie s a r o u nd t he

wor ld

B I C YC L E

Discovering a destination

by bike is far easier than

you think – and can be

more rewarding than

travelling by bus or car.

In the UK alone, cycling

has overtaken golf as

the nation’s favourite

sporting pastime,

following a worldwide

trend towards

two-wheeled travel.

‘ With more than two million Brits cycling

at least once a week, we’re not surprised

that suppliers are routinely catering for

them, most typically with complimentary

rental bikes but also organised sightseeing

excursions. Last year I enjoyed an

interesting cultural tour of Cochin in

Kerala on a bike, which was a superb way

to discover the sights hidden amongst the

city’s narrow lanes and back al leys. And

as a keen cyclist I loved picking up some

exotic Strava segments! ’

Tom Waite, Product Manager - Discover

12% i ncrea se

for cr u i se hol id ays booked

by Kuon i la st yea r

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From su n r i se yoga to l iterat u re fest iva l s on cr u i se sh ips , Kuon i ha s seen dema nd g row for people who wa nt to blend t hei r t i me away w it h lea r n i ng a new sk i l l , i mprove a n ex i st i ng hobby or t a ke pa r t i n a n ex per ience to broaden t hei r u nder st a nd i ng of t he world .

For example in Sri Lanka, there has been a 12% increase year

on year for excursions with a learning theme. New research

commissioned exclusively for Kuoni reveals 70% of people believe

their reasons for booking a holiday have changed over the years

with almost half (46%) saying this is due to a wider choice of

exciting travel opportunities. A desire to experience and learn new

skills is increasingly becoming one of the motivations to travel with

34% of those surveyed citing this as the reason for a change in their

booking habits.

The WORLDClassroom

L I FELO N G LE A R NIN G

Almost 70% had been on at least one holiday

as an adult where they had the opportunity

to learn something new. And 60% said they

had learnt something new on holiday as a

child, with more than half believing that their

childhood experience had improved their life

as an adult.

Whether learning to be a gladiator in Rome

to seeing hydrothermal activity first hand

on the drive in volcano in Saint Lucia, for

parents today, selecting a holiday destination

that allows their children the opportunity to

learn a new skill or understand new cultures

is particularly important. The survey revealed

39% people said they choose destinations that

provide a learning opportunity and a further

29% said that although they do not currently

do this, they definitely would on future trips.

Being away from home with a sense of

freedom is the main reason 38% said

that they did not feel embarrassed to

try something new on holiday. The older

generation also feel less embarrassed when

trying something new on holiday with only

29% saying that this would be the case vs

44% amongst 18-24 year olds.

FA R MIN G

As part of Kuoni’s Thailand

Explorer tour you can really get

hands on and help out on an

organic rice farm, transplanting

rice seedlings, harvesting or

milling rice and even ploughing

the paddies with water buffalo.

M A R IN E B I O LO G Y

The eco-centre at Kuramathi in

the Maldives plays a vital role

in enriching visits for guests

with a true experience of the

Maldives. It’s designed to give

information about marine life

through visual and microscopic

presentations.

A S T RO N OMY

From Orion to the Plough,

stargazing gatherings to

observe the night sky’s

constellations is on the up.

The Canaries is one of the

best areas in the world for

stargazing and the quality of

the sky is so clean and clear

that it is protected by law

YO G A

From dedicated studios in the

Maldives to retreats in the

Caribbean, there has been a

rise in enquiries over the past

two years for customers who

wish to improve their yoga

practice. Kuoni favourite,

Galley Bay in Antigua has

teamed up with Fat Buddha

Yoga founder Jessica Skye to

create a tropical retreat.

S IN G IN G

Workshops for a five-day

expert-led “Caribbean Choir” in

September are selling out fast.

Celebrity vocal coach Mike King

provides two-hour morning

coaching classes at Pineapple

Beach Club, Antigua.

CH E S S

There’s evidence that board

games are back with a 20%

increase in tabletop games

sales. Reflecting a mood for

the “real thing” in gaming

a new chess academy, run

by Russian World Champion

Anatolij Karpov will be sharing

strategies for beginners and

experienced players at the

Forte Village Resort, Sardinia.

PE T ER D I V IN G

Available for beginners and

advanced divers, PETER diving

at Faarufushi, Maldives, due

to open 16th February is a

new kind of diving where the

air supply is filtered directly

from the surface. This is a great

option for dive beginners who

are looking to build confidence

under water.

PH OTO G R A PH Y

Following sell-out trips in

previous years, we now have

two dedicated tours for 2019;

the Images of Russia and Images

of Japan photography tours.

On these exclusive small group

escorted tours, you’ll get the

time to hone your photography

skills and capture famous

sights under the guidance and

expertise of award-winning

travel photographer, Neil

Buchan-Grant.

T O P 10

H O L I DAY L E A R N I N G

E X P E R I E N C E S A R E :

1. Conservation: eg coral

reef planting,

turtle rescue, safari

experience

2. Photography

3. Cookery

4. Diving or snorkelling

5. Watersports: eg

kayaking, waterskiing,

sailing

6. Mindfulness

7. Dancing

8. Yoga

9. Tennis or other sports

10. Pilates

T H E T R AV E L I N D U S T RY ’ S R E S P O N S E T O A G R O W I N G T R E N D F O R W O R L D W I D E L E A R N I N G E X P E R I E N C E S I S B E C O M I N G

E V E R M O R E D I V E R S E A N D I N V E N T I V E .

A N E W LY L AU N C H E D W O R L D C L A S S R O O M I N S P I R AT I O N S E C T I O N H A S B E E N A D D E D AT W W W. K U O N I .C O.U K

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What’s inf luencing TRAVEL

From he at wave s to te lev i sion prog r a m me s , here a re a few of t he a re a s i n f luenc i n g ou r hol id ay choice s t h i s ye a r.

W H AT E V ER T H E W E AT H ER

If there’s one conversation

common to nearly every

travel conversation, it’s the

weather. While the British

heatwave of 2018 persuaded

many to holiday at home,

extreme weather in Indonesia

hit the headlines post the

devastating tsunami. To

help people navigate their

way through hurricane

seasons, tropical humidity

and dry climates around the

world Kuoni has teamed

up with meteorologists at

weathertrending.

S O CI A L T R AV EL

As much as some travellers want to switch off, others need to

turn on. Millennials use Instagram in the way their parents used

the Lonely Planet or Rough Guides. Honeymooners in particular

want that iconic backdrop. The prevalence of WiFi has also

prompted a surge in solo travel – apps make navigating alone far

less daunting. Keeping in touch is easier too, as is meeting the

locals – swipe right for a holiday romance!

S PECI A L CEL EB R AT I O N S

Weddings and honeymoons have long been a Kuoni speciality,

but any event could be an excuse for a special trip with group

bookings for landmark birthdays and anniversaries all on the

up. Special occasion travel now makes up a third of all bookings.

Destination weddings continue to grow with a 260% increase

year on year. Italy has moved into the top three wedding

destinations for the first time in 2019.

S M A L L S C R E E N

W O N D E R S

Hotels with the wow

factor are in demand,

primarily led by the

Amazing Hotels series.

Mashpi Lodge in

Ecuador featured in

the first series of the

BBC’s Amazing Hotels

and put the spotlight

on small, luxury lodge

and treetop stays in

stunning locations.

Luxury hotel retreats are

moving towards natural

materials, incorporating

authentic culture

and smart architectural

planning to ensure

low impact on the

surroundings.

FE A R FAC TO R

However Brexit plays out,

there will always be turbulence

in travel. The Gatwick Airport

drone was the industry’s

unwanted Christmas present,

but scares like this remind

travellers of the benefits of

booking a package.

ABTA found 30% of

holidaymakers spoke to a

travel professional about their

holiday in 2018, with 93%

saying they went on to book

with that company.

Trusted brands are valued

more than ever.

F O O D S E T T IN G T H E AG EN DA

Eating sets the agenda on holiday more than ever before; street

food in Asia, vegetarian cuisine in India… every food trend is

an excuse to make a gastronomic pilgrimage somewhere in the

world. Such is the demand for food experiences nearly all Kuoni’s

small group tours now include a local culinary element. From

learning to make Kimchi in a cookery class in South Korea to

joining a local chef in Lima, Peru to explore the markets and pick

ingredients to take back to a local restaurant, there’s a definite

move towards moments which bring to life the local flavours.

MO N E Y M AT T ER S

Currency fluctuations always

give us the jitters, but despite

the fall in sterling to around

€1.1, the Euro was still the

best selling currency in 2018,

according to Post Office

Money*. US and Australian

dollars were position two

and three respectively

(unchanged from 2017) but

the surprise was the Turkish

Lira: sales were up 368%

after it fell 73% against the

pound. Travellers can insulate

themselves from prices on

the ground by booking an

all-inclusive holiday, but it

is clear that a good deal on

money can still cause

a stampede.

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From g randparent s t ravel l ing w it h g randchi ldren to husband s travel l ing w it h husband s, t he l ist of who we choose to travel w it h is evolv ing. Boy f r iend s, g irl f r iend s, husband s, w ives, f iancés, daughters , g randparent s , f r iend s, sons, aunt s , uncles… we’re mi x ing up our travel l ing companions more t han ever before.

Kuoni ’s ow n research shows t hat 20 years ago, nearly a l l of our g uest s were couples . Two decades on, whi le couples st i l l ma ke up around 82% of book ings, today t he mi x is more var ied – and t he business is adapting to suit how people travel today.

Who we TRAVEL with

C A S E S T U DY: J I L L & M A R N I E

Br idg i ng t he generat ion gap: J i l l Ugo,

75 a nd g ra ndd aughter, Ma r n ie , 11

W h a t i n s p i r e d yo u t o t r ave l w i t h yo u r g r a n d d a u g h t e r ?Timing and circumstances really. I’d been meaning

to go but was struggling to get around to just

booking. Autumn was the best time to travel and

also my daughter’s busiest time at work, so the

three of us mooted the idea of Marnie joining me

over dinner one night. The idea grew from there.

W h y I n d i a ?I had always wanted to go and travelling with

Marnie gave me the motivation to do it. The

autumn half term gave us both a deadline and a

window to stick to!

Ho w d id K u on i h e lp?Gemma at Westfield was a real star. We had

spoken to a few consultants previously but hadn’t

got the right advice or personal feel from them.

From the moment we sat down with Gemma and

she explained she’d been to India the year before,

we felt comfortable. She had great advice about

the internal travel options and was really practical

about accommodation – suggesting when was

best to splurge and where savings could be made

as we’d hardly be in the hotel. She was quick

to respond to questions and would update the

itinerary and price when we made changes or

requested different ideas.

J U S T M E

The rise of solo travel has been widely

reported over the past year and Kuoni’s own

figures reveal a steady increase on people

choosing to travel by themselves or with a

friend rather than a partner.

Top choices are:

1. Small group tours for single travellers

2. Wellbeing Escapes

3. Beach breaks with health and activity

programmes

Kuoni’s own research shows 77% (42% yes

definitely, 35% possibly) would consider

travelling alone to see somewhere new,

provided they were somewhere they felt safe

and there were activities suited to them.

Kuoni is planning a new programme for

single travellers in 2019.

T O P F I V E T O U R S F O R

S O LO S 2018

1. Temple, Tiger & Taj Trail

2. Highlights of India - Taj Tour

3. Classic South Africa

4. Wildlife of Borneo

5. Highlights of Japan

A L I F E T I M E O F

T R AV E L

Couples of all ages are core customers.

There’s no age limit on travel. The youngest

customer to travel with Kuoni in 2018 was

just three months old and the oldest couple

were aged 187 years combined.

FA M I L I E S O F A L L S H A P E S

A N D S I Z E S

Extended families with grandparents, single

parent families, families travelling together,

there has been a 7% rise in family bookings

for 2019. Large family groups to celebrate

a special occasion is a growth area. The

largest family group last year was for 12

people (to Turkey).

LG B T

H O N E YM O O N S

Since Kuoni introduced the travel industry’s

first team of specialist LGBT travel experts,

honeymoon bookings for same-sex couples

have risen year-on-year by 34%

Top destinations are:

1. Maldives, 2. Mauritius, 3. Thailand,

4. Indonesia, 5. Sri Lanka

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For m a ny yea r s t he Kuon i br a nd h a s been s y nony mou s w it h re spon sible t r avel a nd look i ng a f ter place s ou r c u stomer s love to v i sit ; bei ng ac t ively eng aged i n s uppor t i ng projec t s over sea s w it h ch a r it ie s s uch a s t he Bor n Free Fou nd at ion to developi ng a re spon sible code of conduc t for s uppl ier s .

While responsible travel is not new, there has

been a shift in public consciousness. People

are more aware than ever of the pressures

holidays place on the environment. From

animal welfare to the use of disposable

plastics, responsible travel has reached a

tipping point.

Kuoni’s parent company DER Touristik has

long been active in social responsibility

projects, having established the DER Touristik

Foundation in 2014. Through group-wide

fundraising efforts, recent successes

include four school building projects in the

Simanjiro district of Tanzania, as well as

the construction of an education centre for

Maasai women. Goals for this year include

setting up a vocational training centre for

secondary-age pupils, putting an emphasis on

self sufficiency.

There’s plenty of good news elsewhere –

here are some encouraging projects in the

places we love.

K U O N I A N D G A N DY S G I V E

B AC K T O S R I L A N K A

Kuoni has teamed up with lifestyle brand

Gandys for an extraordinary journey through

Sri Lanka. Gandys founders Rob and Paul

Forkan were just teenagers when they lost

their parents to the 2004 tsunami. They were

travelling together when disaster struck, but

the experience led them to set up a charity,

Orphans for Orphans. Gandys allocates

10% of its profits to helping fellow orphans

worldwide and in 2019, Kuoni gets on board

with a new independent car and driver tour

of the island. For every trip sold, £50 goes to

Orphans for Orphans.

See www.kuoni.co.uk/sri-lanka/tours/

gandys-tour

For more information see: www.kuoni.

co.uk/responsible-travel/eco-holidays

Looking after theplaces WE LOVE

For t r avel compa n ie s , t a l k i n g about re s pon sible t r avel i s no lon ger a n opt ion : you h ave to do somet h i n g t h at m a ke s a d i f ference

CO S TA R I C A G O E S C A R B O N

N E U T R A L

Undoubtedly one of the stars of the natural

world, Costa Rica not only aims to be the first

carbon neutral nation in the world by 2021,

but also plans to ban single-use plastics by

the same date. The Costa Rican government

is known for stepping up to the plate; it

was the first Latin American country to ban

recreational hunting, and the travel industry

has made its own contribution with a rating

system for sustainability. The five-leaf rating

is the gold standard in eco lodging:

www.kuoni.co.uk/costa-rica/why-costa-

rica-is-unique.

J E W E L L E RY S H I N E S I N K E N YA

East Africa has some of the longest standing

eco-tourism projects. In 1975, the Kazuri

project started with two single mothers

experimenting with decorative beads. In

common with many other women in the

villages around Nairobi, their traditional

skills helped create a cottage industry in

hand-crafted jewellery. Kuoni features the

project as part of the Leopard Safari:

www.kuoni.co.uk/kenya/safaris/leopard-

safari

Kenya has also been a leader in renewable

energy. Solar is the main power provider at

the Tawi Game Lodge in Amboseli National

Park and the Kilaguni Serena Lodge in Tsavo

West has recently gone fully solar. It features

on Kuoni’s new Beach & Safari Journeys at

www.kuoni.co.uk/kenya/safaris/kenya-

beach-and-safari

G I R L- P O W E R G O E S U P A G E A R

I N B O T S WA N A

Botswana’s Chobe Game Lodge is determined

to do things differently. The lodge is too

large to derive all of its energy from the sun

(currently it runs at 20%), but many of their

fleet of safari and river vehicles are fully

electric or solar powered. And as if cruising

the veldt in near silence was not unique

enough, their all-female safari guiding team

gives women a chance to excel in what has

traditionally been a man’s game.

S E YC H E L L E S S AY S G O O D B Y E

T O S T Y R O F OA M

Nowhere is single-use plastic more of a

risk than the Indian Ocean. Local recycling

facilities cannot deal with the influx of straws

and disposable packaging, so island nations

are stepping up their efforts to cut waste.

The Seychelles banned the importation of

Styrofoam takeaway boxes in 2017 as well

as disposable cutlery, cups and plastic bags.

This year they followed up this year with a

ban on single-use plastic straws.

E D I B L E S T R AW S R E P L AC E

P L A S T I C I N T H E M A L D I V E S

Plastic straws are on their way out across

many of the Maldivian islands, to be replaced

with paper ones or even, as on Velassaru, an

edible version. Made from sugar and corn

starch, the gluten free straws can withstand an

hour submerged in liquid, enough time

for anyone to drink a cocktail. Velassaru has

also built a recycling plant for plastic and

glass, and a botanical chipper can mulch

kitchen waste into compost for the island’s

vegetable plots.

Gandys

Chobe Game Lodge, Botswana

Rachel O’Reilly

Head of Communications

+44 (0) 1306 744194

rachel.oreilly@kuoni.co.uk

Jemma Purvis

Public Relations Manager

On maternity leave

Sarah Jackson

Senior Public Relations

Executive

+44 (0) 1306 744006

sarah.jackson@kuoni.co.uk

Alissa Kirkwood

Public Relations Assistant

+44 (0) 1306 744731

alissa.kirkwood@kuoni.co.uk