Crystal Ski Holidays is to stay part of the TUI group after the UK’s largest tour operator sells off the rest of its Specialist Holiday Group.
The news brings to an end a period of uncertainty over the future of Crystal after several months of rumours about TUI’s plans for its Specialist Holiday Group division of which Crystal was a part.
Crystal insiders say that the decision is good news for the company, and for skiers and boarders, as Crystal will now benefit from investment to grow the ski market and can develop new and unique products. In the longer term there is also the opportunity for international growth.
Summer operation Thomson Lakes & Mountains will also become part of TUI UK and Ireland, which also runs well-known holiday brands, Thomson and First Choice.
The remainder of TUI’s Specialist Holiday Group which includes more than 50 smaller operators including several smaller ski holiday businesses such as Skibound, the schools operator, and Flexiski, which offers short break holidays, will be sold.
Crystal, established in the early 1980s, is the UK’s largest ski holiday operator currently offering packages to over 130 ski resorts with departures from 21 airports in the UK and Ireland.
“Crystal and Thomson Lakes & Mountains is already a very successful business within TUI’s Specialist Holiday Group and a very welcome addition to our brand portfolio in the UK,” said Nick Longman, Managing Director of TUI UK & Ireland, who added,
“We already have a very good understanding of the business as we take many of their customers away on Thomson Airways and I believe the integration of the brands into a business of our size and scale will not only help to fast track growth but deliver even more exciting ski and lake and mountain holidays to top resorts.”
