How do bookings currently look?
As of 2 November 2008, bookings for the Kuoni Group’s tour operating business were 3% up on their prior-year levels.
How is Christmas business progressing and how do bookings look for the beginning of 2009?
For the Christmas period, bookings look very promising. Especially popular are trips to the Maldives, Thailand or Egypt. Additionally, trips to traditional Christmas cities with a lot of Christmas markets (i.e. Vienna or Cologne) are popular. Due to the global financial crisis, a slowdown in bookings for 2009 can be expected.
How did Group turnover develop in the first nine months of 2008?
Group turnover for the first nine months of 2008 rose to CHF 3 775 million, compared to CHF 3 515 million for the prior-year period. The positive turnover result was buoyed by above-average organic growth of 7.2%. Acquisitions added 5.9% to turnover for the period. Strategic Business Units (SBUs) Scandinavia, Switzerland and Asia & Destination Management were the prime contributors to the encouraging turnover rises of the first nine months.
What was the Group EBIT result for July-to-September 2008?
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were encouragingly improved compared to their prior-year equivalent, rising from CHF 103.5 million to CHF 119.7 million. The 15.7% increase is attributable largely to results at SBUs Asia & Destination Management and Scandinavia, though a sizeable EBIT increase at SBU Switzerland also made a major contribution.
What net result did the Kuoni Group achieve in the first nine months of 2008?
The net result of CHF 120.6 million for the first nine months of 2008 was a substantial 21.6% improvement on the CHF 99.2 million of the prior-year period.
How did cash flow stand for the July-to-September period of 2008?
Cash flow from operating activities declined 28.7% to CHF 173 million (prior-year period: CHF 243 million). Free cash flow stood at CHF 134 million (prior-year period: CHF 218 million).