Summary

DERTOUR Group has completed the acquisition of four out of five business units from the Hotelplan Group after obtaining the necessary approvals. This acquisition integrates the entirety of Hotelplan’s travel retail and tours operations across Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, while its holiday home division has been transferred to HomeToGo Group.

Thanks to this acquisition, DERTOUR now boasts a greater variety of tour operator brands and specialist travel services within its network, which includes around 180 companies employing 13,000 workers.

Comment from CEO

Christoph Debus, the CEO of DERTOUR, expressed gratitude to the teams who worked diligently on this transition. He stated, “After months of intense preparation, the acquisition has now been completed. We are excited to officially welcome our colleagues from Hotelplan Group to the DERTOUR Group. This marks a new beginning for collective growth, which we approach with great energy and a clear vision for sustainable growth.”

Leadership Transition

With this acquisition, there is also a leadership change at Hotelplan UK as Joe Ponte steps down as CEO, handing over the leadership to Francis Torilla. Ponte reflected on his five years at Hotelplan UK, emphasizing the collaboration and dedication of his team.

“Leading Hotelplan UK over the past five years has been an absolute privilege, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved.”

Thus, the acquisition not only represents a new chapter for the company but also for Ponte as he moves on to pursue new opportunities.