Louis Group was founded in 1935 by the late Louis Loizou, who is considered to be the "father of tourism" in Cyprus. During the first years of its operation the activities of the Group were limited to the provision of transportation services and shortly after as a travel agency called "Louis Tourist Agency". However, the Group gradually managed to expand its horizons into other sectors, so today, it can cover the whole range of services for inbound / outbound tourism, ownership and management of hotel and catering units and sea tourism, as well as ground handling services at the International Airports of Larnaca and Paphos.
Louis plc is one of the European companies active in the Cruising sector- the world's fastest growing tourism sector- through Celestyal Cruises Ltd (2 cruise ships)—and in the Hotel sector through Louis Hotels Public Company Ltd (25 units).
The Parent company of the Louis Group is Clin Company Ltd, which owns approximately 65% of Louis plc's shares, while at the same time it controls other private companies such as LGS Handling Ltd (75%), Louis Travel Ltd (100%), Louis Aviation Ltd (100%), Fourth GL Prodata Ltd (100%) and Louis Catering Services Ltd (90%).
Louis plc was established in Nicosia on 31 December 1998 as a private company, called “Louis Cruise Lines Ltd”, for the purpose of acquiring the 100% of the share capital of shipowning and other Louis Group companies operating in the cruising sector.
Οn 2 April 1999, the Board of Directors of the Company, decided to take all necessary steps to transform the Company into a listed one and in August 1999, it was introduced to the Cyprus Stock Exchange by issuing 23,750.000 new shares to the public through an IPO.
The vision of the Louis Group is to continue offering its customers and partners the highest possible service quality, to maintain its leading position in the Eastern Mediterranean and to become a key player in selected international markets of special interests. The Company also aims to strengthen and enrich its strategic alliances with international tour operators both in the cruise and hotel sectors as well as in other areas of its activity.