FEATURE ORLANDO
ORLANDO Top Selling Tips...
• “Being able to pre-book theme park tickets for one price allows customers to budget in advance” ATTRACTION WORLD
• “Shopping in Orlando is amazing, from huge discounts at outlet centres like Premium Outlets to malls like the Florida Mall, which hosts top brands”
JONATHAN COUCH USA product and purchasing manager, Travel 2
• “Boggy Creek is an excellent alternative to the theme parks and is great for nature lovers just minutes from Orlando’s attractions”
JONATHAN COUCH USA product and purchasing manager, Travel 2
• “Beat the queues by taking advantage of our early park access at Universal and SeaWorld. If you stay at official SeaWorld hotels you get a quick queue pass free”
ANDREA NOBLE Florida product manager, Virgin Holidays
• “We went to an Orlando Magic basketball game. I would never have thought about a sporting event before but it proved a highlight and I will be recommending it to clients.”
MURIEL MORGAN Travel Counsellor
Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and
Worlds of Discovery theme parks for a single price – remains its best-seller.
What’s New The new LEGOLAND Florida theme park (
www.florida.legoland.com) opens in October with 10 lands. One-day admission tickets cost $65 for adults and $55 for children. Gatorland (
www.gatorland.com)
opens its new Eco Zip Line this summer, carrying riders 56 feet high at up to 30mph. The experience also includes a swamp nature walk. Virgin Atlantic’s latest Airbus A330
has been introduced on the Gatwick- Orlando route. The fuel-efficient aircraft offers a touch-screen entertainment system offering over 300 hours of content with 59 seats in Premium Economy and 255 in Economy – reducing capacity year-round, although an extra service runs from May to October. Attraction World has a New to Do
ticket for customers wanting to see all that is new in Orlando. It offers unlimited admission for 14 consecutive days to Aquatica, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Virgin Holidays (
www.vhols4agents.co.uk) is showcasing Orlando with three agent
fam trips in 2011. Funway Holidays (
www.funwayholidays.co.uk) has launched a trade incentive in conjunction with its new Florida preview brochure for 2012. Top prize is two return Virgin Atlantic flights, seven nights each at the Doubletree Universal Orlando and
32 June 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Fountainebleau Miami, 14 days’ car rental and two two-Park Universal tickets. To be in with a chance of winning, agents must register their bookings by calling 0844 557 0649 or emailing
agencysales@funwayholidays.co.uk.
Tourism Talk DANIELLE COURTENAY
chief marketing officer Visit Orlando “The peak travel seasons
are selling well which gives us cautious optimism that we will end the year on a positive note. We are optimistic that 2012 will see Orlando return to growth, as the early indications from tour operators are that they are already seeing demand for Orlando holidays next year, especially at peaks. The fuel surcharges and APD certainly do not help to encourage UK travellers to book a holiday to Orlando, but at the same time there are some great things going on in the destination that we feel will help agents to sell Orlando. “With so many major new attractions
and hotels combined with the favourable exchange rate, Orlando continues to provide an exceptional holiday."
From The Front Line CASEY HURFORD
product manager Funway Holidays “We are selling a lot of
private homes and villas in Orlando again this year and seeing huge demand for on-site Disney hotels, especially with our current Disney ticket offers and free dining, which equates to excellent value for families. Orlando is constantly evolving, which is why we book a lot of
repeat customers each year. "You can experience the magic of
Disney and the thrills of Universal Studios while at the same time enjoying fantastic weather, warm hospitality and excellent shopping. Orlando really has something for everyone.”
ANDREA NOBLE Florida product development manager Virgin Holidays
“Orlando is naturally the biggest seller for Florida; we’re seeing the villa market expand due to its fantastic value and ever-increasing flexibility, especially for our family market. If you want a family holiday with water and theme parks, then Orlando is key. SeaWorld Parks have introduced an official hotel programme for 2012, offering guests fantastic benefits at SeaWorld and Aquatica including early park access, quick queue unlimited and, exclusively to Virgin Holidays, a free 90-minute backstage tour.”
TONY SEAMAN sales and marketing director, Attraction World “Despite reduced capacity
into Orlando, Attraction World sales are up approximately 30%, year on year. 2010 was also a good year. The new attractions at Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove plus the opening of LEGOLAND Florida will help boost this further. "Orlando is a holiday destination that people specifically decide to go to as they want to enjoy the theme parks
Clockwise from top: Red Coconut Club, Universal Studios; Gatorland; Hopps and dunk shots from the Orlando Magic
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