TUI Group: Expecting double-digit earnings growth also for 2018

HANOVER – “A good third quarter, very good nine-month results,” said Fritz Joussen, TUI Group CEO, at the presentation of the results for the completed quarter. TUI Group has delivered its second consecutive year of profitable 9M results. In the period from 1 October 2017 to 30 June 2018 and based on constant currency, underlying EBITA improved by 57.7 million euros year-on-year to 65.0 million euros. Turnover grew by 6.3 per cent to 11.830 billion euros. At constant currency turnover growth was 7.6 per cent. Fritz Joussen: “Our sector earns its profits in the fourth quarter. We have delivered a profitable operating result already after nine months for the second year in a row. For the full year, we expect to deliver double-digit earnings growth for the fourth consecutive time. We have considerably reduced our seasonality and thus our susceptibility to external challenges through the Group’s transformation focussing on hotels and cruises. TUI is in good health, we are flexible, deliver a strong operational performance and invest in our growth segments while maintaining our cost discipline. Early bookings and sustained growth at hotels and cruises limit the impact of the prolonged warm weather across Northern Europe. We reiterate our guidance for the full financial year and expect our underlying EBITA to grow by at least 10 per cent1."

 

In the first nine months of financial year 2018, TUI Group delivered turnover growth of 

6.3 per cent to 11.830 billion euros (previous year 11.129 billion euros). On a constant currency basis turnover grew by 7.6 per cent. Underlying EBITA grew by 57.7 million euros to 65.0 million euros at constant currency. Including the currency effect underlying EBITA climbed by 27.5 million euros to 34.8 million euros. In the reporting period Q3 2018, turnover rose by 5.0 per cent to 5.016 billion euros (previous year 4.775 billion euros). On a constant currency basis and excluding the impact from the earlier timing of Easter, underlying EBITA totalled 227 million euros, up 2.4 per cent year-on-year (221.6 million euros). Including foreign exchange translation and the Easter impact, it declined by 12.7 per cent to 193.4 million euros.

 

 

In Q3 2018, Hotels & Resorts delivered a strong overall performance. On a constant currency basis, the operating result rose to 86.0 million euros (previous year 77.7 million euros). Average occupancy in the segment improved considerably, while average rates remained broadly in line with prior year despite a negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Cruises continue to deliver a strong performance in 2018. All trends indicate that the growth of the cruise sector will continue in the next decade. TUI is prepared for that trend. It will expand its entire fleet by newbuilds scheduled for delivery in 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026. The performance delivered by all three brands, TUI Cruises, Marella Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, confirms the strong demand. The underlying result was substantially increased in the reporting period:

TUI Destination Experiences (based in Palma de Mallorca) delivered a good operational performance in the third quarter. Q3 arrival guests grew by eight per cent. TUI continued to expand its business with services, excursions and experiences in the destinations. The acquisition of Destination Management announced in the period under review was completed in early August. With this, TUI will become one of the world’s leading providers of destination services and leisure activities as well as handling agent for its own and third-party cruise lines in the ports.

 

In Q3 2018, Central Region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland), the Nordic countries,  Belgium and the Netherlands delivered a good operational performance. This was offset by margin effects in the UK due to the weaker pound sterling, a negative Easter effect of 

19 million euros and a one-off effect of around 13 million euros as a result of airline disruption, driven by air traffic control strikes in France. Customer volumes increased by 

4.4 per cent across all regions, with turnover up by 4.7 per cent to 4.41 billion euros (previous year 4.21 billion euros).

In Northern Region (UK & Ireland, Nordics, Canada, Russia), the Nordics continued to perform very well. The business continues to benefit from the use of the centrally introduced Group-owned Yield Management and CRM systems. In the UK, demand remained resilient in the quarter under review, however, margins continued to be impacted by the weaker pound sterling. Earnings in the UK were also impacted by airline disruption in Europe and the negative Easter effect.

Central Region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland) delivered five per cent growth in customer volumes in the period under review. Germany recorded a very good trading performance in the third quarter. TUI also continued to gain market share in Poland. Earnings by Central Region were also impacted by airline disruption and the Easter effect.

In Western Region (Belgium, the Netherlands, France), Belgium and the Netherlands performed well and also managed to deliver an increase in customer volumes. France leveraged additional synergies from the takeover of Transat, achieved cost reductions and streamlined costs processes and structures. Nevertheless, the competitive environment remains challenging in France. The flight cancellations in Europe and the Easter effect also impacted Western Region.

Hotels and Cruises remain the Group’s growth pillars and continue to perform well. While Jandia Playa, the first Robinson Club ever to open its doors, will remain closed for comprehensive renovation and refurbishment work until the end of the year, the Group’s Turkish and North African hotels are again recording a considerable increase in booking levels. High demand is also seen for Greece. TUI hotels in Spain continue to deliver good booking levels, in particular against strong prior-year comparatives.

 

 

Trading performance for Summer 2018 (as at 29 July 2018) is good, bookings are ahead of the previous year. The high level of early bookings helps to offset the impact of the sustained good weather in our key markets this Summer. Spain remains the top destination. Turkey has caught up strongly and continues to record strong growth in bookings, along with North Africa and Greece. Destinations such as Cyprus, Croatia or Bulgaria also report good growth in bookings.