GRAND Heritage Hotels International is launching its own travel
agency, Distinguished Travel, at World Travel Market.
The hotel marketing group has tied up a partnership deal with
Cleveland Travel in West London, where six agents will be taking calls on
dedicated Distinguished Travel phonelines.
As well as hotel bookings, they will sell flights, including
private aircraft charters, car rental, private limousine transfers and travel
insurance. They will also offer a visa and consular service.
Grand Heritage Hotels International chairman Timothy
Hadcock-Mackay said the travel agency is one part of a Distinguished range of
products that was due to be launched in February 2002.
“It is a huge investment for us, but we have brought the
launch forward to make a positive statement, to reassure both clients and the
industry,” he said.
“We have negotiated some good rates which other agents could
make use of, so we are not taking away their business, but enhancing our
service to clients,” he added.
Distinguished Travel is promoted in the group’s 2002 Global
Directory, which launches this week and features Elegant Resorts properties for
the first time following a new deal between the two companies.
Grand Heritage is also releasing details of its Distinguished Club
Card, ahead of the official consumer launch in January.
Cards cost £95 and are available to anyone who applies. For the
fee, holders receive benefits including 10% discounts at participating hotels,
one £75 and one £100 room rate voucher, Air Miles on hotel reservations and a
dedicated theatre booking service.
Hadcock-Mackay said none of the Grand Heritage hotels could be
forced to take part in marketing initiatives because they are independently owned,
but he predicted that most would want to be involved, as a way to increase both
their business and profile.
There are just over 120 hotels in the group, 60% of which are in
the UK.
Distinguished Magazine,
a lifestyle publication, will be launched next year.