US 3-4 may29 26/5/09 17:42 Page 42
knowledge usa
ttglive.com
Added value
At liberty
to bag a
bargain
Agents should make clients aware of the excellent deals
suppliers are offering in their bid to offset perceptions
about the value of US holidays, says Howard Carr
S
terling’s value against the dollar has airlines, hotels and the like, and customers
slumped by more than 25% in the are getting a good deal.”
last year – but that doesn’t mean The recession is forcing hotels in destina-
the US itself is no longer good value. tions such as New York and Las Vegas,
Suppliers such as hotels and theme parks are which traditionally enjoy high occupancy
increasingly turning to overseas markets to rates, to resort to special offers.
make up for a fall in US domestic business. “Even luxury properties such as Bellagio
The result is plenty of added-value offers are offering five nights for the price of four,”
that can make holidaying stateside no more says Cath Pusey, America As You Like It
expensive than in 2008. Deals range from product director.
extra free nights at hotels in top destinations
to credits towards food and drink bills. Value in Vegas and the Big Apple
And while latest figures show the number Added-value deals are rife throughout the
of UK visitors to the US in February was desert resort this summer. Sister properties
down by 24% from a year ago, it is worth Wynn Las Vegas and Encore are featuring a
pointing out to clients that the exchange range of packages that include extras such as
rate is no worse than it was in 2000 – the breakfast and spa treatments, while hotels
record year for transatlantic holidays. including New York-New York, Monte Carlo,
MGM Grand and Excalibur have special rates
More bang for your bucks that entitle guests to discounts on meals,
“It’s only during the last 18 months that the drinks, shows and other attractions.
pound reached the $2 level,” says Visit USA Bargains such as free extra nights are also
Association chairman Peter Moss. “The aver- being offered by New York hotels.
age over the last 10 years is about $1.50, “We are getting lots of special offers on
which is what it is now. The US is still hotels in places such as New York that we
tremendous value for money. definitely did not see in 2008,” says Jetset
“And it’s worth remembering most product manager Jonathan Ditte.
brochure pricing for this summer was done “Offers such as four nights for the price of
last year when it was still $2 to the pound. three bring the overall cost of a holiday
“Add in all the offers pouring in from down – remembering that fuel surcharges
42 29.05.2009
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