Kuoni makes premium acquisition

The Kuoni Group is to acquire a Swiss educational travel company on January 1 for an undisclosed sum. It is buying Cotravel AG, which provides quality educational trips, primarily through reader offers published in Switzerland’s upmarket newspapers and magazines. Kuoni said the acquisition would further strengthen its position in the premium travel sector. Cotravel was founded in 1986 and is based in Allschwil, near Basel. It has focused on educational travel arrangements accompanied by specialist guides since 2003 and generated turnover of CHF5.1 million last year. The company’s head office, its brand, and its eight existing staff will all be retained, including its management team. By Bev Fearis