Olympic makes first foray into long-haul with Odyssey brand

Company strategy

Olympic makes first foray into long-haul with Odyssey brand

Report by STEVEJONES

GREECE and Cyprus specialist Olympic Holidays has launched its long-haul programme under the Odyssey Holidays brand.

It is the first time the operator has ventured into the market and will offer holidays to Egypt, Dubai, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Goa and Kenya.

Commercial director Photis Lambrianides said sales of 6,000 are being targeted in its first year of operation.

“Although we are aiming for the middle and upper market, we will also offer a range of hotels in addition to those in the four and five-star bracket,” he said.

But he stressed Greece and Cyprus will remain the company’s focus, adding the move into long haul is part of its long-term plan to expand the company.

A quarter of the programme is all inclusive with four hotels available in Goa and three each in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Kenya.

All-inclusive prices start from £689 per person for seven nights at the four-star Sun Village in North Goa.

Weddings in Kenya and Sri Lanka are also featured. Lambrianides said the key message being sent to agents is the flexibility of the programme.

“We can tailor-make packages to individual clients’ requirements and holiday durations are from four days upwards,” he said.

Odyssey will use a mixture of scheduled and charter flights from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham with carriers including Emirates, Sri Lankan Airways, Kenya Airways, Qatar and Monarch.

Offers include reductions of £150 per couple and low deposits of £45.

The way ahead: pictured launching the new brochure from left, are Neji Ben Othman, Tunisian national tourist officer; Kader Chelbi, director and Tijani Guetat, managing director, both of Wigmore Holidays.