HOW WE PLAN, EXPERIENCE AND SHARE OUR TRAVELS THE KUONI WORLDWIDE TRAVEL REPORT 4 14 How people Best ways Introduction shop for holidays to see the is changing world For more than 50 years Kuoni has been at the forefront of the premium travel market and, as a result, is a regular and reliable barometer on premium travel trends around the world. As part of DER Touristik, one of Europe’s biggest travel groups, the Kuoni brand is thriving and evolving in the 22 UK market. Looking after the In this report we look back at the past 12 places we love months and ahead to 2019 to see what’s shaping the way we plan, experience and share our holidays. 16 10 Uncertainty for travellers around Brexit and the well documented The world New and challenges of the high street have dominated the news agenda. classroom noteworthy 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. 20 Who we travel with 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. 8 Spotlight on the top ten 12 New and noteworthy 6 Top 25 destinations 2 | THE KUONI WORLDWIDE TRAVEL REPORT THE KUONI WORLDWIDE TRAVEL REPORT | 3 A RETAIL THEATRE DECADE How people COFFEE, TEA AND PROSECCO The buzz word in travel is on the experiential and that also In 2019 Kuoni broke its record and served more than 108,000 extends to shopping trends. shots of Nespresso coffee and Indian tea company cuppas high SHOP for Last year Kuoni hosted more combined, plus 11,160 glasses of Prosecco! The fridges are full than 500 people taking part and the kettle’s on for 2019… Street in cookery classes, author holidays is events, summer theatre at Chichester Festival Theatre and live Q&A sessions 2008 with Anita Rani – travel is changing increasingly a lifestyle and Kuoni opens the finding creative ways to first of its new- NEW FAMOUS FACE engage people with the brand style travel shops is part of the future of how in Kensington we shop. High Street Television presenter Anita Rani has become a Kuoni ambassador and has joined forces with Kuoni to create a 2011 series of live events based around her own travel adventures. As well as hosting events for customers in stores First travel agent she’s just returned from Sri Lanka, partner store with the purpose of creating a series opened in Bath of short films championing authentic and responsible travel. 2012 First John Lewis concession, NEW STORES, NEW DESIGNS at John Lewis Southampton 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 2018 added new energy to Kuoni stores in Bluewater and Solihull and more than 10 stores will be revamped this year. Kuoni within 18 branches of ON LOCATION TRAVELLING John Lewis and CLICK AND THE WORLD Partners CONNECT The so called “experience-economy” is driving a reinvention of SIMON REEVE PARTNER the shopping experience. The rise of lifestyle events and festivals 390 Kuoni travel experts 2019 Nearly everyone planning a ON TOUR TRAVEL AGENTS continues, with one of the most visited shows of 2018 being BBC are set to visit more than 30 Kuoni holiday starts online. Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace. Through presence at live destinations this year to stay Yet navigating the plethora of As a partner of Simon Trusted independent leisure events throughout the UK, the Kuoni brand reached more at the forefront of worldwide New Kuoni at search results for a special trip is Reeve’s UK theatre show travel agents are thriving, than 350,000 people. Kuoni will up its attendance at events in travel trends. The past year John Lewis, complicated, which is why Kuoni in 2018, which attracted particularly for luxury and 2019 in line with the growth in live leisure experiences, with has seen travel experts visit Trafford Centre has further developed its “click more than 47,000 people, specialist travel, with Kuoni more than 60 travel experts getting out of the stores and being top selling destinations such opens Friday 22 and connect” strategy. Over Kuoni continues its long- reporting a 22% increase in places where people are actively looking for new ideas and as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, February the past 12 months, Kuoni has term partnership with the in sales through travel inspiration. Seychelles, Thailand and Bali, Total of 49 made significant advances to BBC presenter. Thousands of agents since last year. Kuoni as well as India, South Africa, Kuoni outlets, its online expert finder, making viewers watched his travels continues to invest in selling Canada, Jordan, California and including 19 it much easier for people to be to Russia, the Mediterranean holidays through hundreds LGBT SPECIALISTS the Galapagos Islands. Seeing within John connected to a specialist who and Burma, which show the of good independent agents places first hand is a vital Lewis & Partners has detailed knowledge of the light and shade of places throughout the UK and has People increasingly turn to Kuoni for specialist advice. part of what makes Kuoni Particularly valued are the team of LGBT experts, who planned destination which ultimately around the world. particularly close ties with stand out – customers value 11 partner travel honeymoons, weddings and special trips for a record number of results in the right holiday 11 businesses, which look and knowledge and expertise agency stores same sex couples and families. LGBT honeymoons are up 34% for them. feel like an extension of the more than ever. throughout year on year. Kuoni brand. the UK 4 | THE KUONI WORLDWIDE TRAVEL REPORT TOP 25 destinations 1 MALDIVES 2 SRI LANKA 3 THAILAND 4 MAURITIUS JAPAN 5 USA 6 BALI SAINT LUCIA 7 ITALY 8 INDIA 9 VIETNAM KENYA 10 SOUTH AFRICA Maldives 11 KENYA INDIA 12 ANTIGUA 13 AUSTRALIA 14 SAINT LUCIA 15 BARBADOS #20 16 NEW ZEALAND 17 CANADA #21 TANZANIA 18 MEXICO 19 UAE SEYCHELLES 20 TANZANIA 21 SEYCHELLES 22 MALAYSIA 23 GREECE #16 KUONI SELLS MORE THAN 90 DESTINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD 24 JAPAN NEW ZEALAND No change Seven countries Japan into the Spain dropped 25 CUBA in the top have moved up, top 25 for the first out of the seven destinations seven countries have time at #24 top 25 to #28 moved down 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. 6 | THE KUONI WORLDWIDE TRAVEL REPORT THE KUONI WORLDWIDE TRAVEL REPORT | 7 Sri Lanka Spotlight 5 USA The USA is a consistent performer but gets a much- needed boost this year from on the South Africa airlines and hoteliers. Budget carriers Wow and Norwegian helped spark interest in TOP TEN secondary cities and now the premium market welcomes 7 ITALY British Airways flights into Charleston and Pittsburgh Italy is still Kuoni’s best-selling short haul destination and the only Our best performers from April. American Airlines European entry in the top 10. The top three performing areas are 2 SRI LANKA adds London-Phoenix in March Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, Lake Garda and Sardinia. There has 9 VIETNAM and Edinburgh-Philadelphia been expansion to the programme to places including Ischia which, are still strong Synonymous with adventure Sri Lanka packs a lot of variety into a single island, which helps in April and Delta is adding though small, is seeing strong demand for 2019 with sales up 95%. and touring, Vietnam is for 2019 explain its continued popularity. The British market already Edinburgh-Boston in May. following Thailand into the accounts for 254,000 out of an annual 2.3m visitors; a growth of Fly-drives are fuelling growth mainstream thanks to the 26% since 2017. Kuoni bookings for 2019 are 8% ahead of last for Kuoni with California and launch of direct flights in year, with private car and driver itineraries generating much of the New England leading the way. 2011, and great value on demand. Just over half (53%) of Kuoni bookings are for multi-centre the ground. The country has itineraries with private drivers. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Bali 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. Lake Garda 10 SOU TH 8 INDIA AFRICA Preskil Island Resort At eighth position, India has risen two places up Kuoni’s top Down one place from last 6 BALI 10 with sales 4% ahead of last year. Dehli, Agra and Jaipur still year, the classic safari account for the lion’s share of business. Kuoni customers who have destination faces stiff Despite one of its toughest ‘done’ the Golden Triangle are returning to India to experience competition from East Africa: 3 THAILAND years in memory, Indonesia, Sandies Bathala, artist impression other must-sees including the River Ganges and Varanasi, as well Kenya is up from number 18 specifically Bali, retains its as the lesser known national parks such as Bandhavgarh and to 11 and Tanzania from 24 Still the most popular Far number six position.