Joanna Booth looks at the popularity of all-inclusive resorts, and finds out what tour operators are offering for the 2009 holiday season
All-inclusive holidays are booming. According to research organisation Mintel bookings for all-inclusive resorts have increased by about 25% over the past five years, compared with 15% growth in overseas holiday bookings overall. In the current economic climate this trend is set to continue.
Tourists on a budget love the predictability of all-inclusive breaks. With fuel costs bumping up the price of flights, short-haul holidays could be the real credit crunch-busting choice – and all-inclusive resorts in the Mediterranean tick all the boxes when it comes to cost and value.
Jet2holidays has seen its percentage of all-inclusive bookings double year on year, while Cosmos and Thomas Cook have both launched dedicated all-inclusive brochures as a result of high demand.
Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides said: “All-inclusives were at one time mainly long-haul and upmarket, but competition in the Mediterranean has made them much more affordable.”
Jet2holidays general manager of product Gordon Torrance believes all-inclusives will increase in popularity in euro destinations. He said: “All-inclusive will have a real impact in these areas – there are great bargains to be had in the traditional Med.”
Outside the eurozone, Turkey is making a big splash. Cosmos product and commercial manager Gemma Carroll said: “You get more for your money. There are great sports facilities and activities for kids. People are querying exactly what is included with their holiday. They want more than just food.”
At the luxury end of the scale, Thomson has added two new five-star properties, the Susesi Deluxe Resort and Spa in Belek and the Amara Beach Resort in Side.
All-inclusives: what tour operators are offering
Cosmos has increased its all-inclusive product by 60% with its 2009 brochure. It is targeting the early bookings market with offers, free child places and £50 deposits.
Flying from 12 UK airports, it offers many Mediterranean options, including the Balearic Islands, the Algarve, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria and the Greek islands. New for 2009 are Corfu, Kefalonia and Croatia.
The range of flexi-stays has expanded, with breaks from three to 28 days.
Thomas Cook’s new brochure includes holidays in Turkey, Ibiza, Malta, Majorca and the Costa Blanca. Head of product development Zoe Towers said: “Only properties that rate highly with our customers are featured.”
TUI Travel has also expanded in the all-inclusive sector, and believes that this type of holiday will be particularly popular in the Med as customers paying up front in sterling won’t be hit by extra costs charged in euros.
Thomson is selling a brand new Polynesian-themed all-inclusive resort, exclusive to customers in the UK, which it says brings the South Seas to the Costa del Sol.
Olympic Holidays is responding to the same trends. As well as adding more all-inclusive resorts in its established territory of Cyprus, it is introducing new destinations. In Croatia it features two three-star properties, a four-star hotel in Montenegro and a four and a five-star resort in Malta.
All-inclusive holiday trends
- All-inclusive breaks in traditionally accommodation-only destinations, such as the Costa del Sol and the Costa Brava
- Balkan all-inclusives – try Croatia or Montenegro for an alternative to the Med
- Competitively priced and outside the eurozone, Turkey’s all-inclusive options are expanding
- Resorts with a wide range of activities and facilities – all-inclusive is about more than just the food
- Flexibility – restrictive seven and 14-night stays are being ditched in favour of flexible-length breaks
Sample product
Cadogan Holidays (0845 615 6793) offers seven nights at the four-star Preluna Hotel and Towers in Malta from £1,638 per person, twin-share, flying from Gatwick with easyJet
Jet2holidays (0871 386 0000) offers seven nights at the Club Cala Romani apartment complex in Majorca from £324 based on four people sharing, flying from Blackpool
