NEW YORK -- British Airways Holidays added more than a dozen
products to its 1998 Europe portfolio.
The tour operator's programs are divided into three main
categories: Create Your Own Vacation, Value Plus and Concorde
Vacations. The difference between the Create Your Own Vacation and
Value Plus is that the latter is geared toward first-timers and
offers air-inclusive, slightly less expensive products than the
Create Your Own Vacation lineup.
The Create Your Own line offers more variety and options,
according to Jill Donaldson, vice president of leisure travel and
marketing for the U.S. Although the Concorde product is pricier
still, a package offers clients great value. For example, a
roundtrip Concorde ticket can cost $10,000 by itself, but a
three-night package with hotel costs $5,299 per person, including a
one-way flight on the Concorde and a return flight in business
class.
These packages have not changed much because "the Concorde never
loses its appeal," she said, adding that excursion options now
include a day in Bath by way of the Venice Simplon-Orient Express
and a guided antique shopping trip in the Thames Valley.
The most popular programs are the London packages in the Create
Your Own Vacation planner and the Taste of London and London Stage
plans in the Value Plus brochure, Donaldson said. New highlights
for these programs are themed tours including Literary London and
Sunday Morning Street Markets & Greenwich.
Outside London, Britain fly-drive programs continue to be
popular. This year, travelers have a wider variety of country-
house hotels to choose from and, for the first time, the option of
castle hotels, she said. Also for the first time, clients can opt
to stay in country inns, said Donaldson, adding that these
properties are affordable, costing from $52 per person, per
night.
Although clients have more products to choose from, the average
cost of the 1998 lineup has increased only about $10 a night,
Donaldson said. For example, hotel rates that started at $50 last
year have gone up about $5 this year, and some have dropped.
British Airways Holidays has expanded its offerings on the
Continent, as well, and features 92 properties throughout Europe.
The majority of these hotels are in France and Italy, but
properties have been added in destinations such as Turkey, the
Netherlands, Greece, Monaco, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland,
Germany and Austria.
City combinations are a big hit with consumers, she said, and
the operator has added a variety of cities to its Two City
Vacations Value Plus programs. These combinations are in great
demand because they include London, which is "a safe bet," and
another city that is "slightly more exotic and lets travelers
experience something different," she said. Some of the new cities
offered in this package are Vienna, Florence and Rome.
Donaldson outlined the commission structure. Retailers receive
10% on the air portion and 12% on the land for Create Your Own
Vacation products; 10% on the air-inclusive products in the Value
Plus portfolio, and 10% on air and land for Concorde packages.
British Airways is increasing capacity this summer by 14%,
Donaldson said. "Our hotel bookings for April, May and June already
are up dramatically over last year," she said, adding, "This summer
will be really good for everybody" who sells Europe.
According to Donaldson, the operator is targeting the family and
gay markets. Although the operator does not offer departures
exclusively for the gay market, "we can tailor trips for a group,"
she said.
For example, the operator keeps a list of hotels that are
gay-friendly and places where gay travelers would feel comfortable
and welcome. "We also are pushing London family vacations and have
highlighted family-friendly accommodations and free nights in both
brochures," she added.
British Airways Holidays
Phone: (800) AIRWAYS
Web: www.british-airways.com