Hayes and Jarvis has launched an Exclusive Collection catering for the luxury market.
Managing director Clare Tobin said the 2008 programme features 28 of the world’s most exclusive five-star hotels and new options include South African retreats, Bali’s newest Anantara resort and a China tour staying in Shangri-La accommodation.
The programme has been developed after research revealed bookings worth at least £10,000 had boosted the operator’s revenues by 14% over the past year, with more than two thirds of these bookings made by agents.
Of all the top customer bookings, the average value of those made through agents was £14,000, 10% more than those booked direct. During the same period the top agent booking was worth £34,000, 17% more than the most expensive direct booking.
Tobin said she wasn’t surprised by the growth in the luxury sector but added: “The surprise for us was how many of the bookings were coming through agents.
“Clients know the holidays they want to book but they’re not easy to research so they ask for advice. They want to understand how they can make the best use of their time on a trip and how to make the time differences work for them.”
She said by holding 18 educational trips this year to more diverse locations such as Mauritius and China, agents were becoming more confident in selling them. The operator’s own destination experts are also on hand to advise.
Although the programme is aimed at big spenders, prices lead in at £499 for four nights’ bed-and-breakfast accommodation at the Four Seasons Resort in Sharm el-Sheikh including return flights and transfers.