TUI Group introduces Sensimar Concept Hotel in Anse la Raie
D. Oliver Dörschuck, Chief Operating Officer of TUI Germany, talked about the importance of Mauritius to TUI as a strategic growth market and a key destination for the company’s core market in Europe, at a recent press conference on the occasion of the launching of the Sensimar Concept Hotel in Anse la Raie.
TUI Group is the world’s number one integrated tourism group operating in around 180 destinations worldwide. The company is domiciled in Germany, and employs 76,000 people in 130 countries. TUI offers its 30 million customers comprehensive services from a single source by covering the entire touristic value chain under one roof. This comprises leading tour operator brands and 1,800 travel agencies in Europe, six airlines with more than 130 medium and long-haul aircraft, more than 300 Group-owned hotels including cruise ships.
With travelling to foreign countries getting increasingly popular among Europeans, TUI has decided to invest in destinations in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean in the next few years. “Apart from the Maldives and Sri Lanka, we above all see major potential in Mauritius,” said Mr Dörschuck. He also added that with bookings up by around 50 per cent, the destination in the Indian Ocean is one of TUI Germany’s fastest-growing destinations this summer and Mauritius is seen as the number two long-haul destination in terms of customer numbers.
In the Netherlands, the island state is the top newcomer in the long-haul segment. Scandinavia too, reports high growth rates for Mauritius with TUI Nordic’s flight from Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen since December 2015. Mauritius is also an important destination for Poland with flights since November of last year.
It may also be noted that with cruise ships ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 luxury class vessels to the “Mein Schiff” fleet of TUI Cruises and the vessels of Thomson Cruises in the UK, TUI is also strongly positioned in the growing cruise sector. “Global responsibility for sustainable economic, ecological and social activity is a key feature of our corporate culture. TUI has joined the UN Global Compact and, as the only tourism group, it is listed in the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) Europe,” added Mr Dörschuck.
At the beginning of the winter season, TUI will open its first sensimar hotel in Mauritius. Sensimar is TUI Group’s international hotel concept designed exclusively for couples. The four-star Sensimar Lagoon Hotel is located in Anse la Raie and features typical regional architecture. Two hotels are already operating in Mauritius under this brand since early 2015 with the adults-only RIU Le Morne Hotel and the Hotel RIU Creole family hotel.
“In the past three years, the number of German customers has doubled,” Oliver Dörschuck was pleased to report, citing the excellent climate conditions, exceptional beaches, great hospitality and premium hotel quality. “I expect demand for Mauritius to continue to rise over the next few years. That is why we are planning to consistently expand our flight and hotel portfolios.”
* Published in print edition on 8 July 2016
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