Ex Holiday Taxis chief executive Paul Stanyer has made a return to the travel industry with the launch of a new spa website.
Spabreakholidays.com, hosted by The Vertical Group and a branch of the Freedon Travel Group, made its debut this week offering 24 spa hotels in Spain, the Canaries, Greece, Cyprus, The Caribbean and Mexico.
Said Stanyer: “I have been researching the spa market for some time, having recognised a gap in the market for a dedicated spa product, and I have been working closely with spa venues to feature exclusive offers with hotel and spa combined packages during times when the hotels are experiencing low occupancy levels to come up with some great offers.
“This is a fantastic virtual model of operating where I have contracted hotels and developed a technology platform using the resources of an existing business, the Vertical Group, which has the scope and scale to operate specialist brands in niche sectors.
"Facilitation will come from an existing call centre facility and home working division allowing offline sales to be handled from 8AM to 10PM daily. Trading as a branch of the Freedom Travel Group, the new brand is full ABTA and ATOL bonded.
He added: “There will be many hotels and destinations to follow in the very near future and working in partnership with www.Bedbank.com, we are able to make these hotels available to the travel trade on a commissionable basis in the very near future.
“I am also exploring bespoke versions of the site and content for resale to those in the industry who currently sell a high end product range. I am thrilled to be back in the industry and really excited by the launch of Spa Break Holidays”.
Stanyer has recruited directors of UK spa travel agency Spabreak Direct Ian and Kathryn Colligon as marketing partners. The agency focuses on domestic spas but the deal with Stanyer will mean they can guide their clients towards spa holidays abroad.
by Dinah Hatch
