p22 Ops May 22 19/5/09 14:39 Page 22
Operators
Rupert Murray
020 7921 8010
rmurray@ttglive.com
For the latest operator and supplier news, visit ttglive.com/operators
FTO champions
Inspired Luxury
eco workshops
FTO MEMBERS consider sustainable tourism
buoyed by sales
promotion to be the most important work the
organisation does.
Rupert Murray.
are the ones which are being snapped up fastest.
Chris Thompson, FTO’s head of responsible NEW operator Inspired Luxury Escapes claims it “We estimated our average selling price would
tourism, who has just returned from leading is set to meet its target of carrying between be around £800 per person, but in practice it is
workshops with hundreds of Majorcan hoteliers, eight and 10,000 customers this summer. much higher.”
said more than half of the federation’s staff focus The luxury Egypt and Greece specialist’s sales Demetriou, who had not been on the road
on sustainable tourism. and marketing director, Theo Demetriou, said talking directly to agents for several years, is
The team have already held workshops in support from the trade had been key to getting now back in his car going door to door.
Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, but Majorca is the bookings so far. “Agents seem to appreciate me coming to see
most mass-market destination it has yet visited. Demetriou said he wanted the tour operator them and I like to look at them in the eye and tell
“Hoteliers there seem to be very keen to to emulate the attention to detail and personal them about our product,” he said.
embrace sustainability,” said Thompson. service of good independent agents. “It’s going to take a while to get around to
“They realise they can reduce their bottom “Being a small business gives us the chance to everyone but the face-to-face contact is
line and attract customers with the same actions. ensure every customer feels a little bit special,” priceless when building a good relationship.”
“It is appealing, and many hoteliers have he said. Demetriou has been particularly surprised by
already asked to be audited so that they can “When I contracted rooms in the top the popularity of Cyprus.
begin work in this area.” accommodation on offer in Cyprus and Egypt I “I thought being in the eurozone might hurt
Thompson believes the economic downturn made sure I secured larger rooms – and those bookings but it is proving incredibly popular.”
provides a good opportunity to hold workshops.
“A couple of years ago these hoteliers would
have been far too busy in May to attend,” he said.
“But they came in their droves because they
have a bit more time and want to boost their bot-
tom line and become a more attractive product.”
■ Mediterranean Islands special, p41
Activities Abroad
posts 34% growth
ACTIVITY and adventure holiday specialist
Activities Abroad, the company that controver-
sially highlighted what it called “chav-free”
holidays, has reported strong first-half sales.
Turnover in the six months to the end of
February increased by 34% and passenger
numbers were up 46% compared with the same
period in the previous year.
Managing director Alistair McLean said: “We
are naturally delighted to have bucked the trend
in a very difficult year for the industry.
“And there is no sign of it letting up. Sales for
the summer are up 39% compared to 2008.” SEEING READ: Falcon Holidays’ Melissa Patton and Jenny Curran brave the Northern
McLean admitted the company had used some Ireland rain to visit a travel agent and deliver copies of the operator’s new Winter Sun
“brave marketing strategies” but he insisted that brochure. The 2009-10 programme features the Canary Islands and Egypt’s Red Sea, as
“tough times call for tough measures”. well as Lapland trips in December. Offers include free child places and group incentives.
22 22.05.2009
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