UK FACTFILE
Where to Book it Prestige Holidays
Scotland, celebrating a Year of Food & Drink, is currently investing £5 million across four major campaigns, including ‘Autumn Moments’, marketing the country as a year round destination. Prestige Holidays has added weekend
for all-inclusive weekends – a potential money-spinner for agents. A recent survey by Selling Short Breaks & Holidays showed that 70 per cent of travel agents sell packaged short breaks in the UK, 78.9 per cent sell dynamic packages and 65.6 per cent sell low-cost airlines and hotels. Premier Inn launched ‘Premier
Weekends’, a £12-million marketing campaign in May 2010, with its £29 room deal sleeping up to a family of four available until December 16. Bookings are up by 46 per cent and although London, Manchester and Glasgow, remain ever popular, others such as York are on the rise. Commissionable opportunities are increasing as operators introduce or expand weekend break programmes. Look for dynamic packaging opportunities in special events like the Dartmouth annual food festival (October 20-24), the Norwich Beer Festival (October 25-30) and Belfast’s music festival (October 15-30).
UK What’s New
A raft of new luxury hotels will open nationwide in the run-up to London's 2012 Olympic Games. The chic W London opens in October 2010.
Above: Designer shopping in Belfast Left: Glorious beaches in Cornwall
breaks to Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm from November. Whilst Shearings Holidays now include the London and Oxford Shopper and Belfast Weekend Hopper. Grand UK and Glenton Holidays now offer Coronation Street Live and a murder mystery weekend. Butlins has teamed up with TV magician and one-time Redcoat Stephen Mulhern to launch a new magic attraction at its Bognor Regis Resort. The bespoke stand will host shows and video interaction with Stephen, as well as offering tricks to purchase. Haven’s Welsh flagship holiday park
Hafan Y Mor will receive a £15 million redevelopment, with spending going on the addition of 282 luxury static holiday homes, replacing 450 chalets, and the addition of a nine-hole golf course Ferry operator Stena Line has invested
£7m in its Stranraer, Scotland and Belfast route, making its ships more modern. Escorted rail holiday operator Great
Rail Journeys’ new short breaks by classic locomotives are proving an easy sell for agents: a three-day Scotland break, leaving October 1 costs £699pp. Adventure specialist Explore introduced UK weekend breaks in 2009. The operator says these almost sold out this summer, with walking trips in Scotland the most popular. Departure dates will increase in 2011. Explore offers ten per cent commission.
tourismtalk
James Berresford, chief executive, VisitEngland “Short breaks (one-three nights) make up the lion’s share of the
>
01425 480600
www.prestigegrouptravel.co.uk The operator has three-night getaways in the Isles of Scilly. The New Inn in Tresco is priced from £469pp B&B, or, to get away from it all, Bryher’s only hotel, Hell Bay, from £629pp half- board. For September/October 2010 departures the deal includes insurance and helicopter flights from Penzance and transfers.
Explore 0844 499 0904
www.explore.co.uk/agents The operator offers an Outer Hebridean Hike, from/to Inverness to Lewis and Harris, during a long weekend package that includes three nights’ B&B in a local guest house, transport and a guide. Departures September/April/June. From £395pp.
Superbreak 0871 221 4444
www.superbreak.com/agents The new Ultimate Attraction Break includes tickets to four attractions – The London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life London Aquarium and the London Dungeon – and one night at the four-star Novotel London West hotel with breakfast. It costs from £119.50pp sharing or £346pp for a family of four. The deal is valid at weekends in November.
Stena Line 08702 412 417
www.stenaline.co.uk/hotels A two-night package, staying at the five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast, starts from £154pp sharing, including return ferry travel between Stranraer and Belfast, car, accommodation and breakfast. Children's travel and accommodation is free (under 15 years).
Shearings Holidays 0844 209 7143
www.shearings.com All-inclusive three-night weekends in the Scottish Highlands, Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, on a half-board basis, return coach travel (some flight options), sightseeing excursion, gala dinner and entertainment, plus evening bar drinks, start from £109pp for departures between October and April.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52