Club Travel 2000 defends plan to double capacity for 2001

Summer sun

Club Travel 2000 defends plan to double capacity for 2001

Report by STEVEJONES

EXPANDING operator Club Travel 2000 has insisted it is not being over ambitious despite plans to double capacity next summer.

Launching its summer sun 2001 programme, the Manchester-based operator said it was carefully managing its growth rather than acting recklessly.

Marketing director Philip Firth stressed the expansion follows demand from agents.

“This has been led by our independent retail partners,” he said. “While capacity has been doubled, it has also been carefully targeted to service needs identified through our research with agents.”

New routes in the programme include Manchester to Malta, Lanzarote and Ibiza and Prestwick in Scotland to Faro, Reus and Gran Canaria.

Capacity is also being increased at all its existing destinations including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Salou, Benidorm, Minorca, Algarve and Costa del Sol. In a move to provide a clear pricing structure, the operator has introduced a child discount scheme which sees a flat rate for all children rather than just a discount for the first child.

It will also not charge under-occupancy supplements at any of its self-catering properties while all Scottish departures are supplement free.

Firth criticised rival operators accusing them of using cynical marketing tactics.

“Customers can see through gimmicks such as first child discounts and are often positively infuriated when a seemingly good value brochure price becomes hugely inflated by the addition of hefty flight supplements,” he said.

Prices in the programme start at £149 for seven nights’ self-catering in Salou or Algarve. Child prices start from £99.