BERLIN — TUI Blue, a stand-alone hotel firm within TUI Group's vacation-package company, is in growth mode, taking advantage of its parent company's massive repeat customer base and changing travel behaviors emerging from the pandemic.
Speaking exclusively to Hotel News Now at the International Hospitality Investment Forum, Wesam Okasha, global head of business development, said TUI Blue is the fastest-growing segment within all of TUI.
“We are a very young, dynamic but also flexible brand. … We are very creative and have a big team behind us who study the market and see what is needed for the market,” he said, adding that the hotel brand has activated many initiatives around bleisure trips for customers traveling with their families.
Okasha said beachside resorts will continue to be the core of the brand, but it's also looking at new territories and markets.
“We will definitely have a new luxury brand coming up before the end of the year,” he said, stating that it will target the Asian, Middle East and African markets.
“People are willing to pay more, to spoil themselves more, and we want to be part of this," he said.
He cited markets like Dubai as places with potential for the brand, where a city resort concept could thrive.
He said the company signed 22 hotels and opened five in 2022. In 2023, Okasha anticipates about the same pace, but "maybe a little better,” he said.
For more of Okasha’s comments, watch the video above.