Due to the global economic crisis, hectic modern lifestyles and increasing urbanisation, many holidaymakers are now in search of spa facilities and personal wellness treatments as part of their well-earned break. This is the finding of a recent report from Euromonitor, the international travel and tourism industry analyst, which adds that consumers are often foregoing luxuries and consoling themselves with small indulgences such as spa treatments. Many hotels are responding to the trend – but there are also opportunities for the owners of self-catering accommodation. Is there a spa near your property? Tell prospective guests about it and sell its features. Do you have a skill in massage, reflexology, reiki or know a local therapist? Consider offering to book appointments or arrange treatment in the holiday home. Be ahead of the game in giving your visitors that relaxation and wellbeing they long for.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Holidaymakers need therapy
Friday, November 27th, 2009Budget airlines welcome Gatwick sale
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
The big news of the sale of Gatwick Airport has provoked a generally positive and hopeful response from airlines, especially budget and short-haul carriers. They welcomed the break of the British Airports Authority monopoly on airports in the south east and hoped for a better customer experience at Gatwick.
The airport has been purchased by Global Infrastructure Partners, who already own London City Airport, described as one of the most efficient and customer-friendly airports in the UK. GIP have already been urged by airlines to strengthen the airport’s position as the champion of short haul and European flying and encourage the growth of low fare air travel for holidays from London.
Meanwhile London Geneva-based airline Baboo starts twice daily flights from City Airport to Geneva this weekend, with connections to Venice and Florence. Flights start on 25th October 25, using 74-seat Q400 aircraft, with fares from £51 one way including taxes.
New budget flights from UK regional airports
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Two budget carriers have added new routes from regional airports in Britain to their 2010 schedules.
Jet2.com is to fly from Leeds/Bradford to Bergerac, Corfu and Sharm el Shiekh from next May. Tickets for the new services have gone on sale from £29.99 one way including taxes.
The airline currently flies from Belfast, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle to destinations in Europe, Turkey, Israel and Egypt.
Meanwhile Ryanair is launching extra flights from Leeds Bradford in March 2010, making the airport its 11th UK hub. The new flights are to Carcassonne, Faro, Ibiza, Knock, Krakow, Limoges, Malaga, Malta, Montpellier, Murcia, Nantes, Palma, Pisa and Venice Treviso. Ryanair already flies from Leeds Bradford to Alicante, Girona and Dublin.
Ryanair is also adding flights to Malaga from Bristol International Airport in October, with fares from £10 one way, including taxes, and will add flights from Bristol to Arrecife (Lanzarote), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) and Tenerife South.
www.jet2.com
www.ryanair.com
British accommodation star rating system reviewed
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009More than 13,000 VisitEngland assessed properties are being surveyed as part of a wider review of the UK-wide Common Standards star rating system for holiday accommodation.
The UK is one of few regions worldwide that operates a quality accommodation scheme which encompasses service and hospitality as well as facilities and includes a mystery guest overnight stay. (more…)
Summer holiday rush begins
Friday, July 17th, 2009Up to 1.8 million holidaymakers will be heading abroad this weekend as the majority of British schools break up for the summer, ABTA calculates.
Traffic through the main airports will be busy with an estimated 415,000 leaving from Heathrow, 240,000 Gatwick, 140,000 Stansted, 150,000 Manchester, 65,000 Birmingham and 130,000 from the main Scottish airports.
Hundreds of thousands will also be travelling through smaller regional airports and crossing the channel by ferry or tunnel.
Spain is still the number one destination with the Balearic Islands selling well, despite the strength of the euro, ABTA says. Turkey and Egypt have seen significant growth and the US has performed better than many of its competitors.
Capacity cuts made by the major tour operators has meant that there are fewer late deals available for the peak summer but flexible travellers can still find offers.
Easyjet announces winter routes
Monday, July 13th, 2009This winter will see Easyjet flying 15 new routes in Europe. Eight of them will run from UK airports, mainly to winter sun destinations.
The low cost carrier is to serve:
• Fuerteventura from Liver pool and Stansted
• Lanzarote from Liverpool
• Sharm el Sheikh and Paphos from Luton
• Hamburg and Porto from Gatwick
• Lyon from Edinburgh
Fares from the UK start at £27.99 one-way for Edinburgh to Lyon, with three flights a week, and rise to £75.99 one-way from Luton to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, which will be also be served three times a week.
The majority of the new flights start in early November, such as Liverpool-Fuerteventura on 2 November, with Gatwick-Hamburg commencing February 2, 2010.
www.travelmole.com
Ferries compete with low-cost flights
Monday, June 15th, 2009
P&O is beating the low-cost airlines at their own game. It reported a 35% rise in bookings over the Easter break compared to the same period last year, carrying 132,000 passengers on its Dover-Calais service, compared to 98,000 in 2008.
Budget airlines must show true flight costs
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009Europe’s main budget airlines have been given a final warning to clean up websites that mislead travellers about the true cost of flights. The European Commission told persistent offenders that they will face penalties and their websites could even be shut down in July if they do not comply.
Costs of Holidaying Abroad Fall
Thursday, May 28th, 2009There have been slight falls in the cost of taking holidays in the US and in France this week.
The value of the pound against the dollar has increased recently, reaching up to $1.60 in the last few days. This is a still a long way off previous highs but is a great improvement on its recorded low of $1.36 in January this year, and will help reduce the cost of a self catering villa holiday in destinations like Florida.
Meanwhile in France the government there has just approved a cut in VAT rates effective from July 1st. VAT, or TVA as its known locally, will reduce from 19.6% to just 5.5% which means holidaymakers will be able to enjoy roughly 10% lower prices at restaurants and cafés.
Holidaymakers still booking for summer
Thursday, May 28th, 2009Earlier this year an independent study by travel and leisure marketing agency BLM Horizon predicted that 54% of customers would book their 2009 summer holiday in April or later. Tour operators, property owners and travel websites are finding that they were right. (more…)