SOVEREIGN has added short breaks to its programme for single travellers to create an ‘entry level product’ for those nervous about travelling on their own.
Research showed many who fall into the Small World customer profile liked the concept but were also worried about meeting a group of strangers on holiday.
Group product manager Anna Prentice said the short breaks may ease the anxieties of potential customers. “People are nervous about the unexpected and were unsure about committing to a summer holiday,” she said. “We believe they will be more willing to try a short break to sample the product.
“It is important we keep attracting new people. It is a small market and as people’s situations change, we obviously lose customers.”
Prentice added that by expanding the programme, existing customers may now take a city break in addition to the main summer holiday.
Paris, Prague and Vienna are featured in the European short-breaks section with Edinburgh, York and Stratford available in Britain. An Orient Express day break from London to Bath is also included. House-party destinations have been expanded with Andalucia, Symi in Greece and a ski chalet in La Plagne new for 2000.
Hotels exclusive to Small World customers have been added in Bitez in Turkey while an Independent Small World section is dedicated to single travellers who want independence during the day and companionship in the evening.
The long-haul destinations of Sri Lanka and Barbados have been dropped after concerns of the quality of accommodation. Prices lead in at £1,129 per person for a two-week holiday with one week on the new Venezuela Lost World Adventure Tour and a week in Margarita.