Kuoni Travel

which has grown into not only the largest travel company in Switzerland but also one of the leading travel organisations in the world, was founded by Alfred Kuoni in 1906. Alfred Kuoni was born in Switzerland in 1874 and whilst he spent a few years working abroad, three of his brothers opened a freight forwarding agency in Zurich.

On returning to Switzerland in 1905 he entered his brothers’ trade and soon suggested the addition of a travel agency to the already prospering freight business. Today Kuoni employs over 7,500 staff in 300 offices around the world. Kuoni in the UK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kuoni Travel Ltd in Switzerland. Since 1966, Kuoni has led the UK long-haul tour operation market and has consistently been this country’s most successful specialist tour operator.

In recent years the company diversified into niche market operating eg Voyages Jules Verne, Travel Collection, and Sports Abroad. All of these are successful specialist business units with full autonomy for product and marketing benefiting from the financial strength and the central infrastructure of the Kuoni Group.

Kuoni UK restructured and expanded its product portfolio in 2006. The acquisition of the Journeys of Distinction and Kirker Holidays brands in 2006, intensified its focus on quality travel products.

Kuoni Travel