Battle of the giants

Mediterranean hoteliers must choose between leading tour operators TUI<.> and C&N<.> since the war between the two companies is now focused on bed availability in the region.

According to a report from the Turkey Touristic News Agency, representatives from TUI and C&N have asked hoteliers in Turkey<.> and other Mediterranean destinations to sign contracts for 2001 and beyond with just one of the two.

This is the first time tour operators have made such a demand and, for hoteliers, it is a major issue as they are unsure which of the two will survive in the long-run.

In Turkey, the battle began in Marmara and it has spread to Antalya, where tour operators are insisting on exclusivity.

A similar situation was recently witnessed in Egypt, Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries.

The war is considered to have been prompted by the strategic buyout of firms specialising in outgoing tourism from Germany and the UK to Mediterranean destinations such as Turkey and Greece. The second stage of the battle is seen as involving the buyout of businesses dealing with incoming tourism that are located in resort towns.

According to the report, the acquisition by Airtours and First Choice of the firms Manos and Tentour, in Greece and Turkey respectively, is the best example of the second phase of the major operators' strategy.

Theodore Koumelis

Co-Founder & Managing Director - Travel Media Applications | Website | + Posts

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

• SAS and BRA sign long-term partnership to strengthen domestic connectivity in Sweden
• Fairmont Dallas announces key promotions and a new appointment
• AmaWaterways 2025 Latin Touch Cruise showcases the best of Portugal for Spanish-speaking travelers
• Lavanda appoints Greg Materdomini to lead proptech platform’s continued US expansion