Statement by CEO Christoph Debus on DERTOUR Group’s business performance in 2025 in the context of today’s REWE Group financial communication
DERTOUR Group once again proved to be a resilient growth driver within the REWE Group in 2025. Despite an environment shaped by geopolitical crises and economic uncertainty, the Group recorded strong growth in both guest numbers and revenue, thus making a substantial contribution to REWE Group’s overall business performance. Across 16 European source markets, we achieved organic growth of seven per cent in guest numbers in 2025 – a clear sign of customers’ trust in our brands and offerings. This growth was also reflected in revenue development: the invoiced revenue of DERTOUR Group published today by the REWE Group increased by 18 per cent to 10.8 billion euros. This enabled us to achieve profitable growth once again, despite high levels of investment and a volatile market environment.
Rising guest satisfaction: a key quality indicator
What pleases me most is that we combined this growth with an additional improvement in guest satisfaction. The Net Promoter Score (NPS), which measures customer satisfaction and willingness to recommend us, increased by two points in 2025—both for our European tour operator brands and for our own hotel brands. This confirms that our focus on quality, reliability and proximity to our customers is paying off.
Hotelplan acquisition strengthens our market position
A key strategic milestone last year was the acquisition of four business units of the Hotelplan Group, excluding Interhome, at the end of August 2025. By integrating the Hotelplan businesses in Switzerland, Germany and the UK, we further strengthen our position as one of Europe’s leading travel providers. At the same time, we expand our offering in the fast-growing specialist travel segment.
As a result, DERTOUR Group now comprises around 200 companies and approximately 15,000 employees. The integration of our new units, as well as the migration to one unified technology platform, is progressing according to plan.
Strategic focus: Technology as the prerequisite for scaling
With our strategic “Tech & Touch” approach, we created a clear framework in 2025 to combine digital scalability with personal advice. Our group-wide technology platform ATCOM enables significantly faster and more efficient processes and forms a key foundation for sustainable profitability.
The appointment of Boris Raoul as our Chief Technology Officer underlines the central role of technology as a value and growth driver for our Group.
Safety and crisis management are becoming even more important
Demand for package holidays continued to rise in 2025, also reflecting an environment of global uncertainty. At the same time, extreme weather events and geopolitical crises significantly increased the complexity of risk and crisis management. Around one third of all security-relevant incidents last year were influenced by extreme weather.
We are therefore focusing clearly on prevention, rapid response and transparent communication, supported by AI-based forecasting, meteorological expertise and data-driven decision-making. Our objective remains unchanged: to protect our guests as effectively as possible.
Outlook for 2026: Robust demand despite geopolitical pressures
We had a solid operational start to the 2026 financial year. Until the beginning of the most recent Middle East crisis, bookings for summer 2026 were above the level of the exceptionally strong prior year. At the same time, the current situation is affecting expectations for the remainder of the year. Repatriations, travel disruptions and restrictions in parts of the eastern long-haul region are placing pressure on business performance.
Experience shows that the European travel market remains robust overall. Current booking levels for the summer season underline the sustained importance of travel for many people. At present, demand is shifting more strongly towards western destinations.
The added value of package holidays
By safely repatriating more than 11,000 travellers, DERTOUR Group once again demonstrated what organised package travel means in practice: responsibility, reliability and operational capability, even under crisis conditions.
In 2026, we will continue to position ourselves clearly in an increasingly competitive market with differentiated, secure and high-quality package holiday offers. Especially in times of heightened uncertainty, the protection provided by organised travel is becoming an increasingly relevant differentiator compared with individual travel.
“Home of Holidays”: Variety as a competitive advantage
Our ambition remains clear: to be the “Home of Holidays” by bringing together the broadest range of holiday types in the European leisure travel market. With 71 international offices in 31 countries and personal advice in around 2,000 travel agencies, we combine international reach with strong local expertise – throughout the entire customer journey.
Finally, I would like to thank our approximately 15,000 colleagues as well as our partners across Europe and in our destination markets. Their commitment, professionalism and flexibility are key to ensuring that we can continue to offer our guests reliable and high-quality travel experiences, even in challenging times.
Image material: Christoph Debus
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Photo caption: Christoph Debus, CEO DERTOUR Group
Media contact
Corporate Communications
t:+49 69 9588-8000
presse@dertour.com
Background:
DERTOUR Group has its head office in Cologne, Germany, and is REWE Group’s travel and tourism division. As one of Europe’s leading travel groups, DERTOUR Group encompasses approximately 200 companies and employs around 15,000 people worldwide. Every year, millions of guests travel with one of the Group’s tour operators or specialists. DERTOUR Group includes tour operators such as DERTOUR, ITS, Meiers Weltreisen, Kuoni, Helvetic Tours, ITS Coop Travel, Billa Reisen, Koning Aap, Apollo, Exim Tours and Fischer, as well as around 2,000 travel agencies (such as DERTOUR, DERPART, Kuoni, Exim, and Fischer, plus franchises and partners), the hotel brands Sentido, Aldiana, and ananea and the online travel agency Prijsvrij Vakanties. The DERTOUR Group also offers on-site support: The company runs an agency network with 71 offices in 31 travel destinations. The staff in the destination agencies assist the guests of the DERTOUR Group from their arrival at their holiday destination until their departure. For more information, go to www.dertour-group.com.