Staff reaction to Kuoni sale

Staff at Kuoni reacted ‘surprisingly positively’ to the news that the UK business is now up for sale, according to managing director Derek Jones.

Parent Kuoni has put the UK business up for sale, along with tour operations in seven other countries, as it looks to quit the sector to focus on its core activities.

Staff were informed yesterday morning of the decision, which will potentially affect 726 people in the UK.

Jones said employees were ‘surprisingly positively’ and supportive of the move, recognising that a new owner would bring further investment for development.

But he admitted there were some concerns about a possible change in culture, particularly from staff who had joined Kuoni from large multiples such as TUI and Thomas Cook.

"As the day went on, it was clear that some of those guys were nervous that we might get bought by a multiple and become like the companies they had moved away from," he said.

"I totally understand that concern and I have some of those concerns as well, but we can address it."

Jones said although the decision was ultimately down to the Swiss parent company, he and fellow senior managers in the UK would be able to ‘significantly’ influence a sale.

"We will be the people physically selling the business and outlining to potential buyers our vision for the future," he said.

"I believe anyone who would be interested in investing would be investing in the way we do it now."

He ruled out a management buy-out of the UK business, unlike Kuoni France which was the subject of a management buy-out 18 months ago.

But Jones insisted he was personally 100% committed to taking the business through to new ownership and hoped a role would continue to exist for him afterwards.

When asked if there was a guarantee the Kuoni brand would remain in the UK, Jones said it continues to operate under a license in other countries where operations had been sold off.

"The plan is that the Kuoni name will stay and Kuoni Group is very happy for that to happen," he said.

He confirmed the objective was to sell all of the brands – Kuoni, Carrier, Kirker, Voyage Jules Verne, CV Villas and Journeys of Distinction – as one entity.

"Kuoni Group has been very clear that it’s their intention to sell it as one business and that’s what we will take to market, but who knows. It can go anyway," he said.