Gold Medal is set to offer the first all-inclusive package for Dubai in a move it believes will lead to a raft of other hoteliers following suit.
The package, offered at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa in Dubai, follows discussions with hoteliers during a recent trip to the country by the operator. It follows a boom in all-inclusive sales as consumers look for ways to budget during the economic downturn.
Sales and marketing director Ruth Connor said: “We told hoteliers there is an absolute market for all-inclusive. No one has ever done that in Dubai for the UK market.”
Connor said the decision showed hoteliers were now listening to the needs of the UK market following a period of rapid growth and luxury hotel builds.
“This is about Dubai listening to the UK, especially when trading is tough. Even Dubai will not be immune [to the downturn] and I would not be surprised if other hotels follow,” she added.
The deal offers four nights’ all-inclusive at the Jebel Ali for £729. Connor said the package would help boost sales in the peak January sales period. She added: “It’s going to be tough but it’s nothing we can’t survive. It’s a case of making sure we have the right product for customers.”
Meanwhile, the operator has enjoyed a 55% hike in package holiday sales as a result of installing Travel TVs in 310 travel agencies nationwide since April.
Agencies sign up to short- term leases for the flat-screen TVs, which show destination clips and a range of tour operator content, and receive rebates when they hit sales targets with Travel TV’s sponsor Gold Medal.
Gold Medal has a further 150 shops in the pipeline and is ready to launch its Pure Luxury brand on the TVs.
Former On Holiday Group head of sales Colin Currie has been recruited as national sales manager for Travel TV to expand its agency customer base further.