Rudolf Vanmoerkerke
Encyclopedia
Rudolf Vanmoerkerke (ˈryː.dɔlf vɐn.ˈmur.kɛr.kə) is a Belgian
businessman and a pioneer of the Belgian travel industry. He is the former president of the basketball
club Sunair (later Telindus, now Base) Oostende.
customers. In 1968, he bought the ailing tour operator Sunair
, and started to offer air travel vacations.
Six years later he merged all his business in Sun International, which became the dominant travel group in Belgium and in 1984, was registered on the Belgian stock market. In 1976, he started his own airline company Air Belgium
, as a counterpart of Trans European Airways
(TEA) of his competitor Sunsnacks. He bought several tour operators in the Netherlands
, France
and the United Kingdom
, but only on the British market Vanmoerkerke got a foothold. In 1987, he built the first Sun Parks resort in Oostduinkerke
.
Financial problems and the departure of the German group ITS/Kaufhof from the company capital led to the disinvestment
of Air Belgium and later also Sunair. After the sale, his son Mark Vanmoerkerke became the owner of Sun Parks.
Nowadays Vanmoerkerke occupies himself with the insurance company Sun Assistance and the venture capital company Sofidev, in which also Sofina
participates.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
businessman and a pioneer of the Belgian travel industry. He is the former president of the basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
club Sunair (later Telindus, now Base) Oostende.
Career
In 1953 he founded the West Belgian Coach Company, with which he organised bus tours on the European continent especially for BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
customers. In 1968, he bought the ailing tour operator Sunair
Sunair
Sunair is an airline in New Zealand.It operates scheduled services in the north and east of the North Island, being headquartered in Tauranga and flying to Hamilton, Rotorua, Napier, Gisborne, Whakatane, Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Auckland, Whitianga and Great Barrier Island. It...
, and started to offer air travel vacations.
Six years later he merged all his business in Sun International, which became the dominant travel group in Belgium and in 1984, was registered on the Belgian stock market. In 1976, he started his own airline company Air Belgium
Air Belgium
Air Belgium was a charter airline that operated from Brussels, Belgium, in the 1980s and 1990s. The airline flew international services on jet aircraft.-Destinations:*Brussels *Girona*Lanzarote*Ostend*Palma de Mallorca*Zurich-External links:**...
, as a counterpart of Trans European Airways
Trans European Airways
Trans European Airways is a now defunct airline that had its head office in Building 117 on the grounds of Melsbroek Airport in Zaventem, Belgium.- History :...
(TEA) of his competitor Sunsnacks. He bought several tour operators in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, but only on the British market Vanmoerkerke got a foothold. In 1987, he built the first Sun Parks resort in Oostduinkerke
Oostduinkerke
Oostduinkerke is a popular seaside resort in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The name Oostduinkerke translates as 'East Dunkirk'. The town originally shared its name with the French city of Dunkirk; therefore, in the 13th century, 'Oost-' was added to its name to avoid confusion with its...
.
Financial problems and the departure of the German group ITS/Kaufhof from the company capital led to the disinvestment
Disinvestment
Disinvestment, sometimes referred to as divestment, refers to the use of a concerted economic boycott, with specific emphasis on liquidating stock, to pressure a government, industry, or company towards a change in policy, or in the case of governments, even regime change...
of Air Belgium and later also Sunair. After the sale, his son Mark Vanmoerkerke became the owner of Sun Parks.
Nowadays Vanmoerkerke occupies himself with the insurance company Sun Assistance and the venture capital company Sofidev, in which also Sofina
Sofina
Sofina, Société Financière de Transports et d'Entreprises Industrielles, is a Belgian holding company, headquartered in Brussels, which invests in several industrial sectors such as Telecommunication , Portfolio companies, Banks and Insurance , Private Equity , Services within the Company ,...
participates.
Sources
- F. Verleyen, Rudolf Vanmoerkerke: Met De Zon Als Bondgenoot, Elsevier, 1986, ISBN 10: 9069820056
- Rudolf Vanmoerkerke
- Rudolf Vanmoerkerke (80): Ik moet de baas zijn