Skift Take
Amadeus’ Luis Maroto came out on top in 2018. His executive compensation is appropriate, given that the company is the most valuable European travel firm.
Amadeus’ Luis Maroto came out on top of Skift's annual review of CEO pay at Europe’s biggest public travel and hospitality companies.
The long-serving CEO's remuneration rose 5 percent over the previous year, totaling $5.6 million. Much of it — $3.4 million — was share-related with only around $1 million coming in the form of salary.
Although it is generally difficult to justify CEO pay, at least Maroto’s is a reward for success. The company’s market capitalization of just over $35 billion makes it the most valuable travel company on the list, and it has made a net profit of more than $1 billion in each of the last two years.
Second on our rundown was Fritz Joussen of integrated leisure travel company TUI Group. Joussen was awarded a package worth $5.3 million in 2018, which included $1.9 million in long-term share incentives.
The CEO with the biggest pay increase was Nick Varney of Legoland operator Merlin Entertainments, which is in the process of being taken private. The increase was largely due to a big
