NEWS YOU CAN USE — OPERATOR NEWS
OPERATOR NEWS YOU CAN USE
Neilson eyes expansion and trials new board concept
Rebekah Commane Active-holidays specialist Neilson is in the process of opening a ski resort and beach club, and is looking at further expansion. Neilson became independent of Thomas Cook in November 2013, when it was bought out with the backing of Risk Capital Partners. Richard Bowden-Doyle, an industry veteran with 25 years’ experience at Thomson, lastminute and Accoladia, was appointed chairman. Bowden-Doyle, now chief
executive, said: “The company changed so much in 2014, coming from not having a bank account of its own under Thomas Cook to turning over £80 million. The back end of the business was completely integrated with its operator owner and had no ability to trade foreign currency.” He added that Neilson had to “build the finance function from scratch”. In May, the operator will open
the Vounaki Beachclub in Paleros, Greece. It was previously Sunsail Club Vounaki and is undergoing a makeover before joining the programme.
New locations Bowden-Doyle said the operator was also looking at locations for further openings. “For the
rest of 2015, we will be hunting for locations,” he said. “We currently have 10
Beachclubs: six in Greece
and
Neilson chief executive Richard Bowden-Doyle
OPERATOR NEWS IN BRIEF
Ski Famille offers £1,299 saving at Les Gets chalets Ski Famille is offering January savings on two ski-in ski-out chalets with roof-top hot tubs. Seven nights’ full-board is being offered for £1,499 for a family of four at the Chalet Grand Mouflon and Chalet Petit Mouflon in Les Gets – a saving of £1,299 – for a departure this Saturday.
skifamille.co.uk
The Neilson Hotel
Turquoise in France opens next month
Neilson changed so much in 2014, from not having a bank account of its own to turning over £80m
four in Turkey. We are looking to expand beyond those areas and would love to have Beachclubs in Corsica, Sardinia and Croatia.” He explained that, as a
watersports holiday specialist, the operator took sea and wind conditions into account when assessing potential locations.
Experimentation In terms of its existing properties, Neilson is “experimenting” with Andriake Beachclub in Demre, Turkey, according to Bowden-Doyle. “We are looking at developing a
full-on health club and expanding the spa, gym and pool area, complete with personal trainers.
28 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 15 January 2015
“We are also experimenting with expanding the board basis on offer. At the moment, Neilson includes breakfast, lunch and dinner four nights a week. We call this ‘club-board’. In 2015, we are looking at moving to catering every day in Andriake.” In packages, the all-inclusive
proposal was likely to be called Club Boardplus, Bowden-Doyle added. The operator, which also specialises in winter-sports holidays, will open the Neilson Hotel Turquoise (Belle Plagne), in La Plagne, France, on February 7. Neilson is also testing out the
introduction of mountain guides to its resorts in the Alps and including them in ski packages. “In France, the government has banned anyone, other than those that are fully qualified, to instruct or teach people to ski,” said Bowden-Doyle. “So most operators don’t include ski tuition or guides. We are going to experiment with it this season.”
neilson.co.uk
Vacations By Rail adds range of luxury passages Vacations By Rail has introduced a range of luxury packages for 2015. They include the Golden Eagle Danube Express-Treasures of Eastern Europe and Rovos Rail’s 15-day journey from Dar es Salaam, in Tanzania, to Cape Town, via Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
vacationsbyrail.com
Visions Holiday Group introduces gorillas trip Visions Holiday Group has added a trip that allows customers to track endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. Prices start at £2,195 including flights and 10 nights’ accommodation. Also new for 2015 are a selection of villas in Le Marche, Italy, and island- hopping trips in Greece.
visionsholidaygroup.co.uk
Bourne Leisure launches agent booking incentive Bourne Leisure is offering agents the chance to win one of three ICE (Indulge, Chill, Experience) prizes each week until February 8 if they book a Butlins, Haven or Warner Leisure Hotels break and log it online. Prizes include tickets to the ICE Bar in London and the ICE Cave spa at Thoresby Hall Hotel in Nottinghamshire.
bourneleisuresales.co.uk
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