Short breaks to the Rock are really on a roll

Short breaks to the Rock are really on a roll

Variety of offers lift sales to British colony

Short breaks by Brian Richards

Short-break bookings for Gibraltar have revived this year after a poor 1999 in which sales were disrupted by improvement work being carried out at the British colony’s leading hotels.

The absence of Cosmos, which dropped the Rock for the summer and has no plans to restore it has been capitalised on by other operators.

Cadogan managing director Gary David said: “Gibraltar is going great guns for us. After a poor year when the hotels were refurbishing, we’re 3% ahead of our 1998 figure.

“We’ve taken a lot of special-interest groups on short breaks this year – gamblers to play in the casino, dolphin watchers and golfers to play in Spain.”

Agents have been sent details of Cadogan’s £119 away-day offer to take advantage of Gibraltar’s duty-free prices – the day trip includes afternoon tea at the Rock Hotel.

Crystal’s sales have also edged up but Cities product director Alan Betty said growth is limited.

“With Gibraltar’s hotel capacity, you can’t build trade like New York,” he said.

“However, its blend of British and foreign influences will continue to attract people for a long weekend.”

Travelscene sales director John Harding said business has more than doubled this year.

“We’ve added the three-star Bristol property which is taking 45% of our Gibraltar business,” he said.

“The addition of the Bristol has enabled us to have a lower lead-in price – it’s working well.”

Harding added: “We’re developing a sunshine-break product that along with Gibraltar features Malta, Tunis and Sorrento. It’s the way ahead for city-break programmes.”

Bridge Travel Service general manager Jackie Osborne said the operator’s Gibraltar business has “more than doubled” and that the destination would be retained for next year.

“It’s still a small share of our overall business but it’s obviously increasing,” she said. “Gibraltar is one of those destinations where people go to catch the sun.”

Cresta claims this year is its best yet to Gibraltar, with bookings up an impressive 133%. Exact booking figures were not available. Cities brand manager Ian Ackland said: “This supports the trend that people are choosing sunshine destinations for their short breaks.”

Marina Bay: a popular upmarket hang-out where the yachting fraternity gather

Attractions

While Gibraltar has never attracted high seven-night volumes, the colony’s military heritage and varied attractions have kept it popular with a city-break market that has shown solid growth since the mid-1990s.

NATURE RESERVE: much of the Upper Rock is designated as a nature reserve. It contains the vast subterranean St Michael’s Cave and the Great Siege tunnels, built as an 18th-century defence.

APES’ DEN: a cable car operates from the city centre to the top of the Rock. Halfway up is the Apes’ Den, home to the 60-strong colony of Barbary Apes.

MARINAS: there are two modern marina developments, at Marina Bay and Queensway Quay, where the well heeled park their swish yachts and restaurant diners savour the local seafood.

SHOPPING: between the two marinas is traffic-free Main Street, packed with shops – including British stalwarts Marks and Spencer and BHS – bars and pavement cafes. Parallel to it, Irish Town is well stocked with pubs.

While Gibraltar has never attracted high seven-night volumes, the colony’s military heritage and varied attractions have kept it popular with a city-break market that has shown solid growth since the mid-1990s.

NATURE RESERVE: much of the Upper Rock is designated as a nature reserve. It contains the vast subterranean St Michael’s Cave and the Great Siege tunnels, built as an 18th-century defence.

APES’ DEN: a cable car operates from the city centre to the top of the Rock. Halfway up is the Apes’ Den, home to the 60-strong colony of Barbary Apes.

MARINAS: there are two modern marina developments, at Marina Bay and Queensway Quay, where the well heeled park their swish yachts and restaurant diners savour the local seafood.

SHOPPING: between the two marinas is traffic-free Main Street, packed with shops – including British stalwarts Marks and Spencer and BHS – bars and pavement cafes. Parallel to it, Irish Town is well stocked with pubs.

Rock on: city-break alternative

sample product

BRIDGETRAVEL service: a four-night break at thefour-star Caleta with breakfast costs from £332 with flights by British Airways/GB Airways, arrival transfer and free guide book (extra nights £32). Sea-view rooms at £16 a headsupplement.

cadogan: a three-night break at the four-star Rock with breakfast costs from £312 including flights with BA/GB Airways, transfers and free guide book (extra nights £34). Wedding packages available from £229 as add-on.

cresta: a three-night break at the four-star Eliott with breakfast costs £342, including flights with BA/GB Airways from Gatwick and transfers (extra nights £47). Free Rock Tour. Pre-bookable excursions include Ronda (£20), Tangier (£40), Jerez (£38) and Marbella/Puerto Banus (£16).

sovereign: a three-night break at the two-star Queens with breakfast from £285 including flights with BA/GB Airways from Gatwick and free guide book (extra nights £17).

travelscene: offers a four-night break at the three-star Bristol with breakfast from £291 with flights with BA/GB Airways from Gatwick and transfers (extra nights £21).