Two new heads for TUI hotels and resorts

TUI Group has today announced a new strategy to grow its hotel portfolio, appointing two heads to run its hotels and resorts division.

Group chief marketing officer Erik Friemuth has been put in charge of TUI’s own hotel brands TUI Blue, Robinson and TUI Magic Life.

As head of TUI Hotels, he will take over the commercial management of the brands in addition to his other duties.

Thomas Pietzka will be responsible for TUI’s hotel joint ventures, the best known of which is Riu.

By the end of the 2018/19 financial year, TUI is aiming to have grown its portfolio of owned hotels by 40 to 45 properties.

Already, half of the Group’s profits are generated by its own hotels and cruise companies following a re-organisation of the business by CEO Fritz Joussen.

"With its strategic focus as an integrated tourism group, TUI is able to differentiate itself from the competition thanks to a comprehensive brand experience which extends from booking a trip through on-site services to accommodation in the hotel or on the cruise ship," said the company in a statement released today.

"With his many years of experience in marketing and sales, Erik Friemuth shall implement this unified brand philosophy even more consistently in the Group’s hotels.

"The own hotel brand TUI Blue will thereby play a key role. It will serve as a strong driver of the desired growth path. The expansion of TUI Blue’s offer is to be achieved both through new projects and the conversion of existing hotels."