Karisma Hotels aligns with TUI to expand in the Adriatic

PARTNERSHIP WILL BOLSTER GROWING CROATIAN TOURISM WITH UNIQUE, NEW PRODUCTS 
Partnership Will Bolster Growing Croatian Tourism with Unique, New Products

CANCUN, Mexico (May 20, 2013) Karisma Hotels Adriatic d.o.o.(KHA) today announces it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with TUI Travel PLC, one of the world’s leading leisure travel companies. KHA is a joint project of the business groups Karisma Hotels & Resorts—leaders in hotel management, who have an enviable collection of award-winning hotels in their portfolio, and Agrokor d.d.—the largest company in the Adria region and the leading operator in its sector in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe, and as of today TUI Travel joins them as well.

Linking the prominent global tourism companies of TUI Travel and Karisma with Agrokor aims to create new value in Croatian tourism, open new markets and to create a unique hotel collection with distinctive brands that are not yet present in the region. KHA is interested in investing in Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia.

At the press conference, Ivan Todoric, President of Agrokor d.d., emphasized the importance of KHA, whose intensive work over the past two years has earned the trust of the best companies in the global tourism market.

‘The knowledge and experience of our global strategic partners and Agrokor’s knowledge of the regional market will be leveraged for high-quality support to our partners and will thus create a new and innovative tourism portfolio recognized across the region and the world’ said Todoric.

Marinko Benic, director of Karisma Hotels Adriatic noted the weight of partnerships with respected international partners in this regional business association.

"Our focus will be on additional tourism development in the region and thanks to partnerships with leading travel brands such as TUI Travel, this will bring novelty with new types of differentiated products in the tourism industry such as concepts like a Couples Hotel" said Benic.

Neil Evans, Director of TUI Travel Hotels & Resorts expressed satisfaction with the signing of the agreement and stressed the potential of Croatia as a significant tourist destination. TUI Travel, which operates in 180 countries with 30 million customers every year, will bring a new range of tourists to the Croatian market that have not been seen until now and plan to increase the total number of customers from the current 150,000.

Creator of the unique Gourmet Inclusive® concept offering the best in food and service to travelers from around the globe, Karisma has received worldwide recognition for its creative approach to hospitality management and product innovations, including resorts with swim-up suites, infinity balcony pools, beach butlers, unlimited childcare, private villas, cash-free transactions and unique services to meet the needs of the most demanding of guests. Comprising three brands–—El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels, Azul Hotels & Villas by Karisma, and Generations Resorts by Karisma—Karisma properties have been honored with the industry's top accolades, including recognition from Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Travel Weekly, TripAdvisor, and AAA’s “Four Diamond Award.”

ABOUT THE AGROKOR GROUP: 
Agrokor is the largest company in Croatia and one of the strongest companies in Southeast Europe, with nearly 40,000 employees. Agrokor is the leader in the Adria region in the sectors in which it operates, including the production and distribution of food and beverages and retail.

For more information, visit: www.agrokor.hr

ABOUT TUI TRAVEL 
TUI Travel PLC is one of the world’s leading international leisure travel groups operating in approximately 180 countries worldwide. It serves more than 30 million customers in over 31 source markets. Headquartered in the UK, the Group employs approximately 54,000 people and operates a pan-European airline group consisting of 141 aircraft. The company is organised and managed through three business Sectors: Mainstream, Specialist & Activity and Accommodation & Destinations. In the financial year ended 30 September 2012 TUI Travel had revenues of £14.5bn and an underlying operating profit of £490m. For more information, visit www.tuitravelplc.com

ABOUT EL DORADO SPA RESORTS & HOTELS, AZUL HOTELS & VILLAS BY KARISMA, AND GENERATIONS RESORTS BY KARISMA: 
El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels, Azul Hotels & Villas by Karisma, and Generations Resorts by Karisma are a premier hotel collection operating properties throughout the Riviera Maya, Mexico, where guests savor a Gourmet Inclusive® experience that fosters togetherness. Karisma’s growing portfolio is comprised of El Dorado Royale, A Spa Resort by Karisma; El Dorado Casitas Royale by Karisma; El Dorado Seaside Suites by Karisma; Generations Maroma by Karisma; Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma; Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma; Azul Sensatori Hotel by Karisma; Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma; Azul Villa Carola by Karisma; and Azul Villa Esmeralda by Karisma. Properties have been honored with the industry's top accolades including, Conde Nast Traveler’s “Top 100 Hotels in the World,” Conde Nast Traveler’s “Gold List,” Forbes’ “Top 10 Most Romantic Hotels,” Travel + Leisure’s “SMITTY Awards,” Travel + Leisure Mexico’s “Gourmet Awards,” Travel Weekly’s“Readers Choice Awards” and “Magellan Awards,” TUI Travel PLC’s “Hotel of the Year,” “Gold Medal,” and “Green Medal”, TripAdvisor® Traveler’s Choice “Best Hotels for Romance,” and AAA’s “Four Diamond Award.” Karisma has received worldwide recognition for its creative approach to hospitality management and product innovations including resorts with swim-up suites, infinity balcony pools, beach butlers and cash-free transactions. Premier Worldwide Marketing is the exclusive worldwide sales and marketing representative for Karisma Hotels & Resorts. For reservations, please visit http://www.karismahotels.com.

Media Contacts: Alexandra McClure, Courtney Finley, Brittany Pass, Danielle Mayer at Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500

[email protected].