EUROSTAR has reduced hotel capacity in Paris to increase the number of properties offered in Brussels and Bruges in its 2000 brochure.
The direct-sell programme, operated by Cresta, is similar to last year but there are six fewer hotels in Paris, taking the total down to 114, to make way for three more properties in both Brussels and Bruges.
Eurostar Holidays Direct marketing executive Angela Parkinson said: “Paris is very strong for us, taking 80% of bookings, so we are trying to promote Belgium more.”
The brochure focuses on cities reached easily using Eurostar. Other destinations featured are Lille, Amsterdam, Ghent, Antwerp and Disneyland Paris. The latter is served by a daily departure from Waterloo direct to Marne la Vallee from May to October and in school holidays.
At other times there is a direct service to the theme park on Friday mornings only, returning to London on Sunday evenings.
Eurostar claims 60% of the total market from London to Paris – a figure which has doubled since its launch – and a 50% share of the business traffic on the route.
On the London-Brussels route, it claims to carry 60% of total holiday traffic.
The rail operator added that since its launch on November 14 1994, it has carried a total 25m passengers, and numbers continue to grow.
Results for the nine months to mid-November show a 3% increase in sales volumes, while revenue was up 6% from £280.7m to £297.6m. Third-quarter sales rose by 7%.
Eurostar operates up to 21 trains a day to the French capital and up to 10 a day from London Waterloo to Brussels. Travelling time is 3hrs and 2hrs 40mins respectively.
In addition to the rail operator’s own programme, Travelscene, Cresta and Bridge Travel Service offer dedicated Eurostar brochures through the trade. All major on Paris and Brussels, but also offer a range of other cities.
Bridge offers Vienna, Berlin and Prague, for instance, with an option to fly one way for a supplement of about £25, while Travelscene includes Avignon, Bordeaux, Cologne, Lyons and Nice.
Sales director John Harding said: “They are all cities that can be accessed by fast TGV train or national services from Paris or Lille.” Travel times are shown in the brochure.
The 2000 brochure features one property from Travelscene’s new Diamond Hotel category – the De La Tremoille in Paris – and three hotels offering the new Privilege Package.
This includes a room upgrade, late check-out and one other bonus, such as chocolates or wine on arrival.
“It is easy for people who have been on Eurostar to Paris or Brussels before to book their own rail tickets and accommodation, so we have to introduce new ideas to try and encourage clients to buy a package,” said Harding.
Cresta has expanded its 2000 Eurostar brochure to offer three more hotels in Bruges, taking the choice to 10, after suffering a shortage of accommodation in the city for much of last year.
It will also be featuring day trips to Paris, Lille and Brussels every day from April. They are available only on Saturdays at present.
Bridge is offering early-bird saver packages from £122 per person bed and breakfast for two nights at the two-star Hotel Little in Paris including return travel. A similar package to Brussels costs from £138.
key eurostar operators
Travelscene: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Avignon, Bordeaux, Bruges, Brussels, Cannes, Cologne, Disneyland Paris, Ghent, Lille, Luxemburg, Lyons, Nice, Paris, Rotterdam and The Hague. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to Paris.
Cresta: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bordeaux, Lyons, Tours, Bruges, Brussels, Disneyland Paris, Ghent, Lille and Paris. Day trips to Paris, Lille and Brussels.
Bridge Travel Service: Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Bruges, Brussels, Cologne, Disneyland Paris, Ghent, Lille, Munich, Paris, Prague and Vienna. Day trips to Paris, Lille and Brussels.