The Kuoni Group continues to pursue its acquisition strategy in the specialist-travel segment: the Group has now acquired Swiss-based tour operator Unique Travel GmbH, in full and with immediate effect. Unique Travel is a specialist and market leader in leisure travel arrangements to Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.

Kuoni is acquiring Unique Travel GmbH in full from its previous owners Christine Benguerel and Marco Wipfli. The corresponding acquisition agreements were signed last Friday.

Unique Travel, which is based in Zurich, was founded by Christine Benguerel and Marco Wipfli in 1995, and has since grown to become the biggest Swiss-based tour operator for the Eastern Adriatic region. The company generated turnover of around CHF 5 million in 2007 and has a workforce of eight employees, all of whom will be retained by Kuoni. The parties agreed not to divulge the purchase price involved.

Unique Travel is a specialist and market leader in leisure travel arrangements to Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro.

As well as classic beach holidays and city breaks, the company offers cruises, active sailing holidays, island-hopping tours, wellness vacations, guided tours, country house stays and private apartment accommodation. It recently added vacations in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to its leisure travel programme. The Unique Travel brand will be retained, and current CEO Marco Wipfli will remain in overall charge of the company and its activities.