Peter Giles wins an outstanding achievement award from Kuoni
Representatives from 23 of the operator’s partner and specialist travel agent stores attend conference in Sri Lanka. JULIET DENNIS reports from Colombo
From left: Janet Byng, Spear Travels; Peter Giles,
World Market Travel; Nick Harding-McKay, Travel Designers; and Helen Hawke, Newells Travel
‘Kuoni partnership is sacred’
Sri Lankan hoteliers are confident of significant growth in UK tourism to the country and credit Kuoni with having kept the island “on the map” during earlier difficult times. The country’s three-decade-
long war against the Tamil Tigers ended with the defeat of the separatist rebels in 2009 and tourist numbers have since more than trebled. In 2014 there were more than 1.5 million overseas visitors, up from just 445,000 in 2009. Hiran Cooray, chairman of Jetwing Hotels, said: “As long as there is safety and security in our country, tourism will keep rising.” The group currently has 14
hotels and 10 villas. It has four further hotels under construction and is to open four more villas. But after the Tamil Tigers’
attack on Colombo’s international airport in 2001, the group’s future was uncertain, he said. “Until 9/11 this was the worst airline disaster the world had experienced. Kuoni said ‘we will always support you’. “I felt this was like a marriage. Kuoni and other operators kept
12 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 25 June 2015
Kuoni said ‘we will always support you’. I felt this was like a marriage – they gave us confidence to continue
us on the map, they gave us confidence to continue.” Sunimal Senanayke, executive
vice-president of John Keells Holdings’ Sri Lanka and Maldives
resorts division, of which Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is a subsidiary, added: “Our Kuoni partnership is sacred. “Kuoni has been there for us in good and bad times.” He predicted significant growth in UK tourist numbers. “We have the potential to get 1.5 million just from the UK,” he added. The group is to introduce a boutique Cinnamon hotel brand in the next two years and expand its Cinnamon Red brand, which it describes as “lean luxury”.
Operator to probe impact of store on partner
Kuoni’s new shop in Gateshead has affected sales at a nearby partner store, according to Jeanne Lally, co-owner of Travel Bureau. The operator’s own store opened in the intu Metrocentre shopping complex last year. Travel Bureau, an agency in
Gosforth, just over four miles away, has been a fully branded premium partner store for four years. Kuoni is now working with Travel Bureau to conduct a
Sri Lanka calls for better content on o
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has called on Kuoni to improve its online destination content. Chairman Rohantha
Hiran Cooray
Athukorala said the last mention of Sri Lanka on the operator’s Facebook page was on March 25. He called for more photographs, videos of
experiences and new products, as well as detailed descriptions on Kuoni’s website.
He said: “Rather than generic photographs, I’d like to see a picture of the beach ranked best in the world by National Geographic. I'd like to see the digital space updated and more conversions.” The call follows a restructure of the tourist board following the
CONFERENCE REPORT
Kuoni hosts first trade summit
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