WP Holding has finalized the acquisition of 100% of shares in Invia Group SE, a leading European tourism group. As a result of this integration, WP will manage a broad portfolio of travel brands operating in nine European countries and serving nearly 6 million travelers annually. The responsibility for leading this segment has been entrusted to Aleksander Kusz, VP of E-commerce at WP Holding.
The integrated business will bring together WP's existing tourism assets– Wakacje.pl and Szallas Group –with the flagship brands of the acquired Invia Group: Ab-in-den-Urlaub (DACH), Fluege.de (DACH), Invia (CEE), and Travelplanet (Poland). It aims to address the full spectrum of travelers’ needs, from package holidays and city breaks to domestic tourism, rentals and independent air travel.
"We are completing the largest international transaction in the history of WP and beginning a new chapter: building a European tourism group for the next generation. We combine the strength of trusted local brands with our approach to technology and marketing. The scale we have achieved positions us to compete effectively with international platforms. While global players are investing heavily to capture Europe’s tourism market, we are responding with proven business models, agile decision-making and the competencies of the best leaders ready to achieve success together," says Jacek Świderski, CEO of WP Holding.
The integrated structure will be headed by Aleksander Kusz, currently VP E-commerce at WP Holding. Boris Raoul is stepping down from his role as CEO of the Invia Group and concluding his professional relationship with the organization.
"I would like to thank Boris for everything he has accomplished within Invia Group and wish him continued success in his future endeavors. We are now entering a new phase. I believe that together, we will build an organization that leads not only in scale but, more importantly, in delivering exceptional customer experiences. Our goal is to develop first-choice brands that are locally rooted, globally connected, and driven by technology," says Aleksander Kusz, VP E-commerce at WP Holding.
The integrated travel segment will operate as a group of strong, regional companies that maintain their autonomy and identity while benefiting from synergies in key areas such as technology and marketing. Responsibility for shaping strategy and delivering business performance will remain in the hands of the CEOs in each market — a proven model that enables dynamic growth.
Operational structure:
- Dariusz Górzny – serving as CEO responsible for package travel across the Central and Eastern European markets (Wakacje.pl, Travelplanet.pl, and Invia brands)
- Ralph Michaelsen – serving as CEO responsible for package travel in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (Ab-in-den-Urlaub brand)
- Hans-Peter Buniat – serving as CEO responsible for the independent air travel segment and development of the Fluege.de brand
- Piotr Furmański – serving as CEO responsible for the development of the Szallas Group in the CEE region
In addition to the respective CEOs, the management team also includes leaders of shared functions:
- Sergey Manthey – Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Piotr Żołnierek – Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Katarzyna Walczak – Marketing Stream Lead
- Alexander Sandow – Product Stream Lead
- Anna Wróbel – People Stream Lead
The travel segment will operate in Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Croatia. It currently serves almost 6 million customers annually. The acquisition of Invia Group by WP was valued at EUR 242.8 million.
WP Group is a technology holding group engaged in media, advertising, and e-commerce. It owns the WP web portal and operates specialized thematic websites such as money.pl, WP SportoweFakty and benchmark.pl. It also develops subscription services through companies such as Audioteka Group and Patronite. In e-commerce, WP is active primarily in tourism (e.g. Wakacje.pl, Szallas Group, Nocowanie.pl) and consumer finance (Superauto.pl and Totalmoney.pl). The company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2015.