M-Travel Switzerland tightens its brand portfolio - M-Travel Switzerland (MTCH AG), which resulted from last year's merger of Hotelplan Schweiz AG and Travelhouse AG, aligns itself in a second phase of restructuring even more to the customer needs, reduces duplications and benefits from synergy potential. The newly formed divisions of M-Travel Switzerland 'Longhaul/Europe/Cruises', 'Beach Holiday Shorthaul' and 'Specialist' are represented within the established brand catalogues. With this optimization of the brand portfolio, ESCO will no longer be acting as a brand. This as well as the actual economic situation has led to a cutback on personnel of approximately 50 employees at the headoffice. The traditional brand Hotelplan however will be strengthened even more by this product improvement. With the six strategically differently positioned brands - Denner Reisen, Migros Ferien, Hotelplan, Tourisme Pour Tous, Travelhouse and Globus Reisen - M-Travel Switzerland is covering all customer needs.
Interhome and Switzerland Tourism launch strategic partnership - Interhome and Switzerland Tourism, the national tourism marketing organization, have launched a strategic partnership. Under their new cooperation deal, they will make use of important synergies to enhance Switzerland's position as a preferred holiday destination in Swiss and foreign markets.
Vacando expands its online-platform - In addition to offering some 90,000 holiday properties worldwide, the Interhome subsidiary Vacando has launched a direct ‘do-it-yourself platform’, which enables owners to market and rent out their properties independently. The new offer complements Interhome's full-service concept, comprising all aspects of marketing including guest care.
Interhome enters partnership with Easyjet - Interhome has entered into an exclusive partnership with British low cost carrier Easyjet, the continent's fourth largest airline. Under the agreement, Interhome's extensive portfolio of holiday properties will be made accessible to Easyjet passengers on the carrier's homepage and respective national websites. The cooperation agreement covers Britain, France, Germany and Switzerland.
M-Travel Switzerland takes over shareholding on Group Worldspan AG - M-Travel Switzerland takes over a minority shareholding in the renowned company Group Worldspan AG which operates in the Events, Incoming and Incentive areas. In this way, M-Travel Switzerland is covering one further promising niche in the customer portfolio.
M-Travel Switzerland takes over bta Holding AG - On 1 January 2010, M-Travel Switzerland will be taking over the successful bta Holding AG with the acquisition of a controlling stake. As a result, the business travel brand FCm First Business Travel, which is already part of M-Travel Switzerland, will be integrated in bta Holding AG. The business travel brands will now be known under the name bta First Travel AG. In addition to its core business of business travel management, bta also offers holiday and group travel, incentive, congress travel and event management. bta operates 10 branches employing 80 people in Switzerland. The merger with FCm First Business Travel will further strengthen the company's position.
New company structure for Belair - Hotelplan Holding AG sells its majority shareholding of 51% on Belair Airlines AG to Air Berlin PLC. In November 2007 Air Berlin acquired 49 percent of Belair from Hotelplan Holding AG and since then continuously developed the Swiss airline. By spring 2010 the Swiss fleet will be increased from three to nine aircraft and over 130 new cabin and cockpit positions will be created. The Hotelplan Group will remain an important partner of Air Berlin.