Lastminute.com plea for full-price holidays

Product supply

Lastminute.com plea for full-price holidays

LASTMINUTE.COM managing director Helen Baker has asked suppliers to give the Internet company full-priced holidays.

She said: “Selling at the last minute is not just about selling cheaply. As far as the travel side of our business is concerned, a lot of what we sell is not discounted. I wish the travel industry would actually use us more.

“People give us cheap holidays and then criticise us because we sell cheap. I challenge people to be a bit more open-minded. Give us the full-priced holidays.”

She added: “Some of the hotel companies have been excellent in this category. We have sold last-minute hotels for Valentine’s Day, when people are prepared to pay a very high premium.”

First Choice chief executive Peter Long said Baker should prove her point.

He said: “If Helen can demonstrate to [sales and UK distribution director] John Wimbleton that he can sell a lot of stock last minute at full price then he would be delighted to give her lots of stock at full price.”

Baker: wants a more open-minded approach