Louise Bates named Tui Blue managing director as Artur Gerber steps down

Louise Bates has been appointed managing director of Tui Blue as long-serving chief Artur Gerber prepares to step down to take up an advisory role.

Bates, currently director of brand and products at Tui Hotels & Resorts, will assume the position at the start of the new financial year on October 1.

She joins the management board of the hotel subsidiary to oversee the business segment alongside Bernd Mäser, who became chief executive of Tui Hotels & Resorts in May.

Gerber, 61, is leaving the business at his own request after more than a decade with Tui Group, having joined in 2015. He will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity.

During his tenure, Gerber led the international development and rollout of the Tui Blue brand, overseeing expansion into China and the establishment of new hotel clusters across Africa.

He was also instrumental in the development and recent launch of Tui’s luxury hotel brand, The Mora.

Marco Ciomperlik, chief operating officer at Tui, said: “Artur has played a decisive role in shaping the development of our hotel business over recent years. With Tui Blue, he has built a strong international hotel brand and been instrumental in driving its expansion.

“On behalf of the entire Tui team, I would like to thank him most sincerely for his great dedication and his many years of successful work.”

Ciomperlik added: “I am delighted that Louise, an internationally experienced manager from within the Tui Group, is taking over the management of the Tui Blue brand.

“Louise has successfully managed and further developed hotel concepts such as Tui Sensatori and Tui Sensimar and has an excellent network of international hotel partners.”