Travel 2 brochure

Travel 2 is hoping the second year of trading for its Simply Luxury Short Haul product will get off to a good start with the launch of its 2015-16 brochure.

The Italian Lakes feature for the first time, including the Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees

The brochure features 21 new hotels across Europe and North Africa, such as La Manga Resort and Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa in Spain, while the Italian Lakes feature for the first time.

“The new product is a direct result of feedback from agents who have asked us for certain hotels or areas, ” director of sales and marketing Gordon McCreadie said.

He added that turn-of-year demand had already been 50% ahead of forecast figures: “We felt there was a definite gap in the market and we’re pleased with the response from agents who see how price competitive we are and appreciate the service.”

“We felt there was a definite gap in the market and we’re pleased with the response from agents “

Gordon McCreadie, Travel 2

The programme was launched for the first time in April 2014 and general manager short-haul product and purchasing Ricky Wason said it started to take off for the lates market last year, with Crete and Tenerife among the star performers. The Canaries generally, Cyprus and Portugal had also had a good year, he added.

This year, he said there was strong interest in premium all-inclusive resorts, such as the Paphos Amathus Hotel in Cyprus, which is being renovated and will reopen in June as the Olympic Lagoon Paphos.

“New product such as the five-star all-inclusive Ikos hotels in Greece are also looking popular, ” he added.

To kick off the launch among agents, Travel 2 arranged for a butler to visit Tailor Made Travel in Cardiff and Quartz Travel in York to spend the day talking to customers, serving champagne and making coffee.

The operator also made Valentine’s visits to agents and more luxury roadshows are planned this year with a bigger regional focus.

To celebrate the launch of the Short Haul brochure, agents can win one of five Simply Luxury by Travel 2 bathrobes by telling Travel 2 what their favourite property, or destination, is from the brochure via Facebook or Twitter.