Premier Holidays has launched its America 2000 brochure featuring ranching holidays in Arizona and Texas for the first time as well as increased hotel capacity in popular destinations such as Las Vegas, New York, San Diego, Arizona and Boston.
General manager Rob Haynes claimed the expansion was made possible by a 40% increase in business to the US so far this year. He attributed the growth to an increasing demand for tailor-made holidays from a maturing market to the US and closer ties with travel agents.
Haynes said: “We have invested heavily in agency promotions and roadshows and will be carrying on this tradition during the next 12 months.
“We will be working closely with destinations such as California, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Arizona, Texas, the Capital Region and South Carolina,”he added.
Premier’s biggest-selling product is Florida and the Caribbean, which attracts 29% of sales, followed by the fastest-growing region of California with 27% of bookings. Around 17% of clients travelled to the northeastern states while the Deep South declined slightly in popularity to take just 8% of bookings.
Haynes said: “While Florida is still number one, these figures demonstrate the tremendous growth we have had over the past two years to other destinations, notably California, Las Vegas and Arizona.”
Programme capacity is up by 30% and flight prices lead in at £256 return, car hire from £26 per day, ranch stays from £89 per person per night and Las Vegas room rates from £38 at the Excalibur Hotel.
Premier is also featuring the new Elvis Presley-themed Heartbreak Hotel in Memphis from £69 per room per night.
premier’s top 20selling states for 1999
(Last year’s positions in brackets)
1. Florida (1) 11. Illinois (10)
2. California (2) 12. Utah (12)
3. Nevada (4) 13. South Carolina (14)
4. New York (3) 14. Wyoming (-)
5. Arizona (6) 15. Colorado (18)
6. Tennessee (5) 16. Vermont (13)
7. Massachusetts (7) 17. North Carolina (16)
8. Louisiana (8) 18. Pennsylvania (-)
9. Hawaii (9) 19. New Hampshire (-)
10. Virginia (10) 20. Maine (-)