PICTURE: ISTOCK Youtravel
PRODUCT NEWS
expands portfolio
after a positive start to 2010
Robin Searle
Youtravel.com has extended
its portfolio to include Las
Vegas, Thailand and Orlando
as it claimed a “flying start”
to 2010.
The accommodation-only
specialist has also introduced
properties in the
south of France and Italy as
it looks to expand from its
traditional strongholds in
the Mediterranean, Canaries
and Egypt.
Sales and marketing director
Paul Riches said bookings,
revenue and margins were all
up in January, with the poor
weather at the start of the year
driving sales through online
and call-centre channels.
“We’re off to a flying start in
January and we’ve seen weekon-week
growth, whereas
last year it evened out after a
couple of weeks,” he said.
Although the proportion
of sales for summer had
increased year on year, Riches
insisted there was still demand
for this winter with sales for
the period up to the end of
April still accounting for 60%
of business.
Turkey continues to be the
fastest-growing destination,
22 | Travel Weekly | January 29 2010
with sales so far in January
more than double last year’s
on the back of capacity
increases.
Riches said the expansion
into France and Italy was
a logical step as youtravel.
com looked to increase its
Mediterranean presence, and
the moves into Las Vegas and
Orlando were designed to capitalise
on improving exchange
rates and flight capacity.
Park Plaza opens its doors
The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is to have a soft
opening on February 4. The finishing touches are being
put to the £350 million property, which has 1,080 rooms, a
restaurant by Michelin-star chef Joel Antunes and the first
Illy Espressamente coffee bar in the UK. When complete,
the hotel will also have a spa, swimming pool and gym.
Soft opening rates start from £99.
g Go to hotel-girl.com for more on the Park Plaza
“We’re off to a
flying start in
January and we’ve
seen week-onweek
growth”
Youtravel.
com has
added
Thailand
to its 2010
portfolio
A further expansion to
the youtravel.com portfolio
of around 20% was planned
for the coming months,
he added.
Riches said youtravel.com
was no closer to reaching an
agreement to rejoin ABTA.
The company left the association
last year over new rules
to make bed banks liable for
consumer money in the event
of an agency failure.
TRADE SPEND
GETS A BOOST
Youtravel.com has increased
its trade marketing budget to
£200,000 for 2010.
The accommodation-only
provider said the budget was
between 10% and 20% larger
than last year as it looked to
consolidate relationships
with established top sellers
and nurture new contacts.
It will host at least two fam
trips to Greece in conjunction
with Aquis Hotels and
Resorts, with 30 agents
hosted on each.
Other planned activity
includes a series of one-to
-one training events and
the continuation of its VIP
trip and presence at The
Travel Convention, despite
the fact it is no longer a
member of ABTA.
Sales and marketing
director Paul Riches said:
“Investing in our trade
relationships is a crucial part
of our business plan. We’re a
trade-facing company and
want to do all we can to work
with agent partners to
enhance our growth.”
Air New Zealand unveils
Skycouch in new aircraft
Air New Zealand passengers
will be able to lie flat in
economy class when the
airline’s new Boeing 777-300
aircraft comes into operation
next year.
The airline revealed
prototype designs for
economy, premium economy
and business premier travel
seats in Auckland this week.
The new Skycouch seat in the
economy cabin is a row of
three seats with fold-out
supports that allow
passengers to lie flat across
the three seats. The facility
offers enough space for two
adults to lie flat, or for one
adult and two children. A total
of 22 sets of Skycouch seats
will be available, taking up
the first 11 window rows
in the economy cabin.
The make use of the extra
seat, two adults must pay the
full price for two tickets and
about half price for the third.
The new Boeing 777-300
goes on sale in April. Air New
Zealand plans to refit its
fleet of eight Boeing 777-200s
from the middle of next year,
with all Asian, North American
and UK services to have the
product by 2012.
Couples
can spread
out on three
seats in
economy
class
www.travelweekly.co.uk
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