TUI powers upgraded Eurostar experiences platform as preferred tours and activities partner
- Tours and activities platform available on Eurostar app and website
- Customers can book 5,000 experiences in the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands
- Platform developed and populated by TUI – Eurostar’s preferred Tours & Activities partner
- Partnership continues TUI’s strategic growth in tours and activities
TUI Group, the world’s leading tourism group, is powering an upgraded tours and activities platform for Eurostar, the high-speed rail link between the UK and mainland Europe. The agreement with Eurostar continues TUI’s strong and strategic growth in tours and activities, including a steadily increasing number of partnerships with high-profile European businesses.
The enhanced version of the digital platform now enables Eurostar customers to choose from over 5,000 excursions, activities and tickets, available in all Eurostar destinations. In the UK there are hundreds of activities in London alone, but customers can also book excursions in Oxford, Cambridge, Cardiff and Edinburgh. There are also experiences available throughout France, the Netherlands and Belgium, including options in the key city destinations of Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, as well as Versailles, the French Riviera, Rotterdam and Antwerp for those looking to travel on to Eurostar’s connecting destinations.
Henry Ledden, Head of Digital, Eurostar, said: “As people start planning their first trips after lockdowns, they are looking for new experiences. Our updated activities platform offers a selection of the best things to do across our destinations making it even easier to plan an escape as travel restrictions ease.”
The existing tours and activities agreement between TUI and Eurostar started in 2018, but the custom-built digital distribution platform is part of a wider collaboration that sees TUI become Eurostar’s preferred Tours & Activities partner. In addition to developing the digital platform, TUI is also providing all 5,000 excursions, activities and tickets.
“Eurostar was our first international rail partner, and we are very proud to grow our collaboration, providing a digital solution to deliver more great experiences for their customers.” Commented Nishank Gopalkrishnan, Chief Business Officer of TUI Musement, the Tours & Activities division of TUI Group. “This is also further recognition of the growth of our supply portfolio, globally and within Europe, and the scalability of our digital distribution solutions.”
A diverse selection of experiences is available, from skip the line options at world famous landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge and Harry Potter Studios, to must-do activities, including boating along Amsterdam’s canals, Belgian beer tasting and the Downton Abbey tour. Available prior to travel or while in destination, experiences can be booked via the Eurostar website and app, with unique offers and discounts available exclusively to Eurostar customers.
About TUI Musement
TUI Musement is a global Tours & Activities business that combines a highly curated product portfolio, scalable digital platforms and in-destination service by local teams, to source, develop, distribute and deliver products in three categories:
- Experiences: Excursions, activities & attraction tickets
- Transfers: Between airports, hotels and ports
- Tours: Multi-day itineraries encompassing flights, hotels, experiences and transfers
Available in all major beach and city destinations, products are sourced from leading travel businesses or developed in-house by TUI teams, including the TUI Collection, the flagship experiences portfolio of TUI Group, and National Geographic Day Tours, unique and immersive small group guided experiences.
Products are distributed to customers, including the 19+ million TUI customers, through TUI websites and apps – such as the Tours & Activities dedicated TUI Musement app, as well as in-destination local teams and B2B partners, including some of the world's leading OTAs, tour operators, airlines, hotels, travel agencies and cruise lines. TUI Musement is one of the major growth areas of the TUI Group and employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide.
About TUI Group
The TUI Group is one of the world's leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the MDAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover. TUI Group offers its 20 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain under one roof. The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 17 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe's leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company.
Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation.
About Eurostar
Eurostar is owned by three shareholders: SNCF (55%), Patina Rail LLP, a consortium comprising Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (“CDPQ”) and funds managed by the Infrastructure team of Federated Hermes (40%), and SNCB (5%).
