For 15 years, it was known as Malta Sun Holidays. Last year it became Sunshine Bargains. This year, the Malta specialist has changed its name again – to Bargain Holidays, having dropped its three other Mediterranean destinations of Tunisia, Cyprus and Majorca.
Managing director Robby Borg said: “We’re concentrating on Malta for 2000 and plan to take a big allocation on Sabre Airways’ planned new scheduled service.”
Since it launched in 1984, the operator has relied exclusively on charter flights to feed clients into its own 380-room Palm Court Hotel in Qawra and a spread of other Malta properties.
In this year’s brochure, Bargain Holidays features 37 Maltese hotels, aimed firmly at the British client.
“I could be putting all my eggs in one basket, but I would rather have a poor British tourist than a rich German. The British spend their money in the hotels; the Germans and French spend it outside,” he said.
Now Borg’s Malta programme focuses on families in summer and the long-stay market in winter. Long-stay clients, mostly aged over 50, pay £196 for a week half-board holiday and then a daily rate of £5.50, including full English breakfast.
Operations director Mike Smith said: “Most long-stay clients book as couples and we keep them warm, well fed and entertained. Many extend their stay – we get a huge number of repeaters.”
Around half stay on an all-inclusive basis. The concept was introduced three years ago and Smith said: “It works well at the Palm Court – we have five bars, indoor and outdoor pools and plenty of space for people to move around.”
Bargain Holidays’ Malta target for 2000 is 50,000 clients. Half are bound for the Palm Court, where year-round occupancy is in the high 80s.
The hotel has been so successful that Borg has applied for a permit to build a four-star hotel – to be known as the Millennium Park – 200 yards from the Palm Court in Qawra.
He plans to open the 350-room property in summer 2002. It would operate along similar lines to the Palm Court – exclusively for clients of Bargain Holidays.
BargainHolidays
Location: Bargain Holidays is at 467 Roman Road, Bow, London E3 5LX. Tel: 020 8983 6563. Fax: 020 8983 6514. New call centre open on 08000 352353 for reservations. E-mail: sunshinebargains@itsnet.co.uk or info@sunshinebargains. co.uk. Web: www.sunshine- bargains.co.uk.
Staff:operates with more than 30 staff in the UK and Malta.
Trade sales: around 20% of the total. Company is seeking increased racking by independent agents.
Brochure: summer 2000 brochure features just Malta. Separate winter and summer brochures from 2000/01 will feature Malta, Cyprus, Majorca and Tunisia.
Product: features 37 Malta hotels, with emphasis on the company’s own Palm Court Hotel in Qawra. Flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.