Travel 2 has hit back at recent reports that long-haul sales are suffering as the economy continues to sag, reporting a 20% rise in bookings to faraway destinations.
The operator says it has retained clients by working with airlines to keep costs down and offering a raft of value-added temptations.
Sales and marketing director Gordon McCreadie said: “We are bucking the trend here. We have been witnessing growth since the turn of the year on long haul despite all the issues such as APD and the public’s lack of disposable income.”
He added: “We have been working with our airline partners, using tacticals and managing to keep the prices down.”
“We have also worked really hard to offer loads of value-added extras such as in-resort credit. If a Travel 2 guest checks in to a hotel, they will be asked if they want to put credit on their room and the hotel will match the amount.”
Travel 2 has also focused on sweetening the price pill by offering free nights and room upgrades.
McCreadie said the hidden costs of short-haul holidays that are packaged around charter and low-cost carriers mean the difference between the cost of a long-haul and short-haul holiday can sometimes be smaller than people think.
He said: “The amount of extras such as meals on the plane, in-flight entertainment, baggage charges and seating all adds up.”
McCreadie said bookings to the Caribbean were up 200% year on year and with more airlift to the Caribbean, many were travelling there for the same price as a holiday in the Med.
He also added that Dubai had seen an uplift in sales, particularly since the unrest in Tunisia and Egypt.
He said: “People are looking for guaranteed winter sunshine and now that places like the Jebel Ali and the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah are offering all-inclusive packages, people are buying into that. Dubai is up 120% year on year."
“People are not turning away from long haul, they are just deciding that they want one big holiday a year instead of a couple.”
by Dinah Hatch
