Bookings for the Kuoni Group’s tour operating business (in Swiss-franc terms) have been 3% above their prior-year equivalent for the past four weeks. Year-to-date booking volumes stood at their 2009 levels as of 11 April 2010. The Scandinavian, UK, Benelux and Asian markets have seen particularly strong bookings growth, as the company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be told today. The AGM will also be asked to re-elect current members of the Board of Directors Wolfgang Beeser, Annette Schommel and Raymond D. Webster for a further three-year period.
 
The Board of Directors will recommend to the AGM that a dividend be distributed of CHF 1.60 per registered share A and CHF 8.00 per registered share B for the 2009 financial year. The dividend proposed is intended to compensate for the reduced dividend paid last year in view of the then-uncertain business and market outlook.

Kuoni reports positive recent trends in the booking levels for its tour operating business. The last four weeks have seen a 3% increase in such bookings compared to the same period last year. 2010 booking levels in the various individual markets to date and for the last four weeks are as follows(as of 11 April 2010 / in the last four weeks):
Kuoni Group +0% / +3%
Southern Region - 3% / - 4%
- Switzerland - 5% / - 8%               
- Southern Europe +1% / +1%
- Asia +4% / +8%

Northern Region +2% / +12%
- Scandinavia +7% / +11%
- UK & Benelux - 3% / +13%
 
With large areas of European airspace currently closed as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, it is impossible to make any detailed projections at present on any business impact.