TUI Franchise gains ten exclusive tours from Berge & Meer

Berge & Meer and the TUI Franchise distribution network are expanding their partnership with ten exclusively developed tours for the 2027 season. The trips will be sold solely through the network’s roughly 400 affiliated travel agencies. For those considering Germany’s franchise market, the partnership illustrates how a network can give its members a distinctive product range: the new itineraries will not be available through other sales channels.

Ten itineraries for the 2027 travel season

The new range comprises six long-haul trips and four tours within Europe. According to a report published by tourism portal Tourexpi on 12 November 2026, the itineraries were first presented at the TUI Franchise management conference, held in Turkey from 5 to 8 November 2026.

The news therefore centres on an expanded product range for the existing network, rather than the opening of additional travel agencies. Berge & Meer supplies the exclusively developed tours, while TUI Franchise provides nationwide distribution through its affiliated agencies in Germany.

All ten itineraries are planned for the 2027 season. The timing matters: they were presented in November 2026, but the trips themselves are for the following year. This gives participating agencies a tangible opportunity to discuss customers’ travel plans for 2027 using a range available only within their own network.

Exclusive distribution through three travel agency brands

The affiliated network includes agencies operating under the TUI ReiseCenter, FIRST REISEBÜRO and Hapag-Lloyd Reisebüro brands. Together, these roughly 400 agencies form the exclusive sales channel for the new tours. This figure refers to the existing affiliated agency network, not to newly opened locations.

Through their partnership, Berge & Meer and TUI Franchise aim to strengthen high-street travel retailing. Exclusivity is the main means of achieving this: while many package holidays and tours are available through various booking channels, these ten itineraries are reserved for affiliated TUI Franchise agencies.

This distinction matters for how the agencies position themselves. An exclusive itinerary offers a different starting point for a customer consultation from a trip that can also be booked through numerous other providers. The distinguishing feature here is the availability of the specific product. However, this does not in itself imply a price advantage over other trips or guarantee any particular level of sales.

From a franchising perspective, the agreement illustrates a practical approach to developing a shared product range. The network brings distribution together, while individual affiliated agencies can offer the exclusive products to their customers. The shared benefit is access to these itineraries, rather than any announced expansion of the network.

Small groups define the new range

Nine of the ten tours will operate with no more than 16 guests. Small-group travel is therefore a clear focus of the new range. The limit explicitly applies to nine itineraries and should not be assumed to cover all ten trips.

Alongside the split between six long-haul trips and four European tours, group size is one of the range’s specific defining features. It provides a useful basis for customer consultations, allowing travellers to consider whether a tour with a group of this size suits their preferences.

There is also a limited-time booking incentive. Customers who book by 31 January 2027 will receive an additional 5,000 PAYBACK loyalty points. This promotion is separate from the features of the trips themselves: the points are a booking incentive, whereas group size and destination help customers choose the right itinerary.

What the partnership means for franchisees

The announcement shows that developing a franchise offering does not have to depend solely on opening new locations. In this case, cooperation within an existing distribution network is being expanded through additional, exclusive products. The scope is clearly defined: ten tours for 2027, available through around 400 affiliated agencies.

Whether the itineraries will generate additional bookings remains to be seen. For now, the practical assessment rests on what the partnership actually provides: an expanded product range, an exclusive sales channel and a time-limited booking incentive.

Practical tip: When communicating with customers, affiliated agencies should clearly distinguish between the exclusivity of the tours, the small-group limit applying to nine itineraries and the PAYBACK booking deadline. This keeps product benefits and the limited-time promotion easy to understand.