New destinations aim for a smooth landing

Club travel 2000 by Linsey McNeill

New destinations aim for a smooth landing

Operator adds to flight options for 2001

Mainstay: Spain and the Canaries are Club Travel’s strongest markets

Spain specialist Club Travel 2000 is aiming to increase its passenger numbers by more than a third following the addition of several new destinations for next year.

The operator has increased its Air Travel Organiser’s Licence from 174,000 heads this year, to 228,000 for next year.

Expansion

Although it expects its biggest increase in sales to be inclusive tour packages – up from 30,000 this year to 60,000 next year – seat-only will still remain by far the most significant part of its business.

As part of plans to increase passenger numbers over the next year, Club Travel 2000 has expanded beyond Spain and Portugal to offer three new destinations for 2001.

For the first time it will be offering flights to Turkey, Cyprus and Malta. Flights to Dalaman, Paphos and Luqa will be available from Manchester, and Luqa will also be served from Glasgow. These will be featured in the operator’s new year-round Low-Cost Flights brochure, due out at the end of this month.

Regional flights

In addition to these services, Club Travel 2000 will be offering new flights from Manchester to Reus, Ibiza and Arrecife, and from Prestwick to Las Palmas, Faro and Reus.

It already serves these destinations from other UK airports.

The operator sells seats from nine UK airports in total, including Gatwick, but the majority of its growth for next year will be out of the north of England.

Growth strategy

Group marketing manager Andy Loynes said: “We are looking at some modest expansion from Bristol. However, our growth strategy is focused on the north of England and Scotland where we know that there is untapped demand for independent product.”

Loynes claimed Club Travel, which was founded in 1984, had “massive” support from independent agents in the north who appreciated its decision not to make its product available to any of the major multiples. He said 3,000 independent agents sell its flights, 500 of whom he described as volume bookers.

“Their support and our growth underlines how strong a market need there is for a major independent player in both flight-only and tour operating,” added Loynes.

Expanded team

In order to cope with the anticipated increase in passengers next year, Club Travel 2000 has strengthened itsmanagement team with four new appointments.

Loynes, who was previously a director with a Manchester-based PR agency, joined the company in August, together with Philip Firth, who left his position as head of marketing and business development at Leeds Bradford Airport to take up the post of Club Travel 2000 marketing director.

Sales manager Andrew Warden, previously sales manager for Shearings, and key accountmanager Ian Baker who was senior operations controller at JMC, joined last month.

Expanded team

In order to cope with the anticipated increase in passengers next year, Club Travel 2000 has strengthened itsmanagement team with four new appointments.

Loynes, who was previously a director with a Manchester-based PR agency, joined the company in August, together with Philip Firth, who left his position as head of marketing and business development at Leeds Bradford Airport to take up the post of Club Travel 2000 marketing director.

Sales manager Andrew Warden, previously sales manager for Shearings, and key accountmanager Ian Baker who was senior operations controller at JMC, joined last month.

Cyprus:new for 2001

factfile

club travel 2000

founded: in 1984. There was a managementbuy-out in 1996.

based: Sale, Manchester.

product: inclusive tour packages and flights, mostly to Spain and the Canaries. Departures from nine UK airports.

new for 2001: flights and packages to Turkey, Malta and Cyprus from the north of England.

passengers: 174,000 this year, of which 144,000 were seat only; 228,000 passengers are forecast for next year.

turnover: £29 million in 1999; £40 million forecast for this year.

airlines used:Monarch, Virgin Sun, Air 2000, Scandic, Futura, Sabre, Air Atlanta, Air Malta, Maersk and Ryanair.

unique selling point: lowest price pledge on all flights for next year.

Key contact: agency support manager Becky Mellor. Tel: 0870 750 2015.

reservations: 0870 756 2000

viewdata: CT2/CT2#

Technology

Club Travel 2000 has made investments in technology, which it claims have improved its service to agents. A recent upgrade of its viewdata system was designed to make it more agent friendly and easier and faster to use, while those agents hooked up to the Internet can now download Club Travel’s entire seat-only programme plus late deals over both the X-tant and Imminus networks.

Loynes added: “There are many benefits to agents of this service, notably the swift and cost-efficient transmission of data, which is more up-to-date and may be easily and instantaneously forwarded to individual branches.”

Loynes: tapping into demand forindependent product