| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 24/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 6 |
| Copyright: Other |
Sunvil Holidays MDin U-turn over Internet
SUNVIL Holidays managing director Noel Josephides’ cynical views of the Internet have been changed following a survey of his direct clients which found 59% prepared to book their future holidays on-line.“That gave me quite a shock. The respondents know the Sunvil product and were happy to book it over the Net without contacting us,” said the Travel Weekly columnist.
The survey showed 53% of Sunvil’s direct clients had home access to the Internet while 32% could surf the Web at work. Some 66% had made on-line travel arrangements.
Josephides said: “I felt quite depressed because I was always of the opposite view. My clients are the sandals and socks type and I am surprised to see that they are actually switched on on-line bookers.”
Around 20% of Sunvil’s clients spent three hours or more per day surfing the Internet while 18% spent two to three hours and 40% one to two hours.
Josephides said on-line specialist Webweekends was already the main seller of Sunvil’s UK short-break holidays only six weeks since the Internet site’s launch.
He said Web sites need to be aimed at the local community which will attract local advertisers. “There is an immense amount you can do but you will have to do it.”
However, Airborn managing director Jeff Petar disagreed with localising Web sites. He said: “I get bookings from Japan and Mongolia. You are looking too introspectively.”
n See Cutting Edge, page 70