DESTINATIONS — UK & IRELAND
Ffestiniog Railway
a new History and Heritage tour and repeat performance of New Orleans Jazz at Christmas at the latter. For a rural escape, Warner
Leisure Hotels’ Bodelwyddan Castle in north Wales boasts 260 acres of parkland plus a National Portrait Gallery satellite collection of Victorian artworks, although it’s also home to the brand’s signature Star Breaks for those who want added entertainment from the likes of Lee Mead, Jason Donovan and Billy Ocean. Alternatively, tap into the
growing market for garden breaks with Saga’s horticultural holiday
led by a specialist host, or Grand UK Holidays’ new trip, The Houses & Gardens of Hidden Wales, which visits lesser-known spots such as the 16th century Grade I listed gardens of Gregynog (five days, from £299).
l RAIL TOURS: STEAM AHEAD
When it comes to specialist breaks, rail is the undisputed king in Wales. Thanks to the country’s history of coal and slate mining, the countryside is criss-crossed with small-gauge industrial railways that have reinvented themselves as sightseeing routes.
HOW TO SELL WALES
Tariq Khan, head of trade sales, Hoseasons: “More people are taking two or three short breaks a year, rather than one long holiday. That’s great news for agents, as it means more bookings. But remember
drive times for short breaks are generally up to two hours, so there’s really no point showcasing Wales to customers on the east coast.”
Mike Bowers, national sales manager, Shearings: “Take time to find out about customers’ interests, then use this knowledge to cross-sell. Popular themes include steam railways and TV shows such as Coast and classic
1960s programme The Prisoner, which was filmed in Portmeirion. These provide a great incentive to visit.”
Nick Rudge, managing director, Cottages4you: “To be successful in the Welsh holiday business, it’s important to look at booking statistics, to understand what customers want. We’ve seen properties near the
coast sell, on average, one more week than those inland. Properties that accept a pet also sell one more week, and those in a national park sell two more weeks than those in the rest of Wales.”
25 June 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 55
▲
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 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76