TALKING SHOP
Iceland We're Backing Agents
Iceland FACTFILE
Size: Roughly the size of England but the population is just 300,000
Top two tourist destinations: Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon
High season: June to September. Northern lights viewing: best October to February – but remember daylight hours are short
Getting there: Iceland Express:
www.icelandexpress.com Icelandair:
www.icelandair.co.uk
Transfer times:
Airport to Reykjavik - 45 minutes Average costs: Meal out - £30-40
Average length of stay: Four nights in winter and seven in summer
Accommodation choices: Reykjavik has 4,000 hotel rooms with choice and availability growing. Boutique hotels are the newest addition. Beyond the capital it's mainly three-star hotels, some four- star, plus farmstays
Think iceland, think: Regent holidays:
www.Regent-holidays.co.uk All iceland:
www.All-iceland.Co.Uk Best-served:
www.Best-served.co.uk Kirker Holidays:
www.Kirkerholidays.com Titan Hitours:
www.Titanhitours.co.uk Nordic Experience:
www.Nordicexperience.co.uk Reykjavik excursion:
www.Re.Is Taber Holidays:
www.taberhols.co.uk
Learn more:
www.visiticeland.com www.icelandinformer.co.uk
Destination Dialogue
Selling Short Breaks & Holidays' editor Steve Hartridge acted as moderator at our Destination Dialogue Iceland event. The afternoon brought agents and suppliers together to brainstorm challenges and trends, discover new products and debate how best to sell the destination. Check out what they discovered…
Iceland in context The ash cloud crisis last spring raised the country's profi le, while a devaluation of the currency and growth in low-cost airfares has helped Iceland become a more affordable destination.
The challenges • Most clients want to see the Northern Lights, but you cannot guarantee this as the phenomenon is weather dependent. The best chance is October to February, in locations away from the city. • The perception is that Iceland is very cold but in fact it's warm in summer and relatively mild in spring and autumn too. For those travelling in winter recommend plenty of warm clothing. • Iceland has a lingering reputation for being expensive – counter this by explaining prices have come down signifi cantly and that in turn the eurozone countries are more expensive.
The opportunities • There are no language barriers – everyone speaks English. • Icelanders like to shop so there is plenty
for shopaholics - plus vat is refundable at the airport.
• Icelanders are crazy about Christmas and celebrations begin at the end of November so this is a great time to recommend the destination to families. • Day trips and excursions are expensive on the ground so clients will benefi t by pre-booking these with you. • It’s a good destination for self-drive holidays.
• The volcanic eruption last
year caused airline problems worldwide but only affected a very
small area of Iceland. The eruptions have piqued visitors' interest in the country's unusual geology and helicopter tours are selling well. • Government funding has been put in place to increase tourist appeal and get visitor numbers back, so now is a good time to understand Iceland and recommend it.
Getting there Icelandair offers three classes of travel to Reykjavik, with fl ights from Heathrow, Manchester and Glasgow, bookable through GDS (one per cent commission). Iceland Express offers 11 fl ights a week from Gatwick in summer and daily fl ights in winter. In 2011 it adds direct fl ights from Edinburgh, Dublin and Belfast to Reykjavik. A twice-weekly Edinburgh service launches on June 14; the Belfast service will go via Edinburgh. Prices will be from £101 each way. Flights from Dublin launch on June 10 for the summer. All fl ights will connect to Iceland Express’ US routes and offer a
stopover in Reykjavik at no extra charge.
Beyond the Dialogue May Swan-Easton, Travel Counsellors, saw a quick benefi t from attending Destination Dialogue Iceland. She said: "Just after the event I sold my fi rst weekend break to Iceland. I couldn't have done it without the help of the Destination Dialogue training session."
In conclusion "Iceland is the perfect destination for tailor-making a great short break because it's a complicated destination for people to put together themselves. Iceland has a raw appeal, and there are not many places you can scuba-dive in the morning and dog-sled in the afternoon.” Oliver Blacklay, Kirker Holidays “Iceland is a real land of contrasts between the north and the south. It’s really wild in parts and comparable to New Zealand.” John Bennett, Nordic Experience
48 Spring 2011 •
www.shortbreaksholidays.com
toptip
straight from the airport to unwind after their
“Pre-book the famous Blue Lagoon and tell clients to head there
fl ight." Kirker Holidays
L & FAR L: VISIT SOUTH ICELAND
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