israel government tourist office
Training roadshows: the next will be on April 10 in Liverpool, April 11 in Manchester and April 12 in Leeds, and there will be a series in London in the autumn. There will be presentations about the country and agents can meet specialist tour operators and hotel groups from Israel.
Fam trips: IGTO hosts educationals mainly when there is something it particularly wants agents to attend, such as workshops. Otherwise, it works through tour operators.
Services: IGTO has huge supplies of destination brochures and produces a quarterly newsletter with tour operator and hotel news.
Contact details: Israel Government Tourist Office, 180 Oxford Street, London W1N 9DJ. Tel: 0207-299 1111. Fax: 0207-299 1112.
E-mail: igto-uk@dircon.co.uk.
Key contacts: Amnon Lipzin, director and Sara Hopenfeld, deputy director.
been set aside to fund joint promotions with tour operators.
Israel Government Tourist Office director Amnon Lipzin said: “We are offering to pay at least 50% of operators’ marketing costs if they run special promotions to the region.
“The amount we will be putting into this depends on the response from operators but there is enough money for those who want to take up our offer.”
Lipzin said the IGTO is talking to more than four operators that are keen.
The Dead Sea, in the Judean desert, is one of the healthiest places on earth thanks to its position of 400 metres below sea level – the lowest point on the earth.
At this level, the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are filtered, so you can sunbathe for longer, and the air is unpolluted and pollen free. The Dead Sea contains 10 times more salt and minerals than the Mediterranean, making it so buoyant you really can float on the water and read a newspaper.
It is also the source of the famous mud – sold on the beach to slap on all over or used for treatments in the many hotel spas.
The area has 3,200 rooms in hotels including the Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton Moriah, Nirvana and Golden Tulip Privilege, and will have 4,000 rooms by the end of the year with the opening of the Royale Hotel in June and a Novotel in the autumn.
The Dead Sea is featured by operators including Airborne Holidays and The Imaginative Traveller as part of a tour of Israel, and offered as a standalone destination by specialists such as Longwood, Superstar and Peltours.
Pullman, which offers one hotel, is expanding next winter by adding the Hyatt Regency and Nirvana. Managing director Simon Blutstein said:”There is growing demand as the Dead Sea becomes recognised more in the spa and holiday market but I believe it is best sold as part of a tour.”
Peltours marketing manager Darren Panto said it is usually combined with Jerusalem or Eilat. “If people request it for seven nights we check the clients are aware that it is not a resort like Eilat,” he added.
In the day, clients can take excursions to the rock fortress of Masada or to Jerusalem, or go on a jeep safari or hiking in the desert. But in the evening there is no entertainment other than that laid on by the hotels.
As a short-break destination, the Dead Sea and Isrotel’s Carmel Forest Spa Hotel – a major spa resort in the north of the country – are at the upper end of the market, with three nights costing from £400 to £500 depending how many spa treatments are included.
Longwood Holidays managing director Rafi Caplin said:”Israel’s spa product offers are sound value for money but prices are at the higher end of the market so it needs to be promoted in upmarket sectors and possibly more towards older people.”
Superstar Holidays sales manager Andrew Ponton added: “I believe there is interest in the younger market, and seven days gives you time to unwind. It is better value than a UK health farm.”
THE Dead Sea region is making a major effort to raise its profile in the European health and beauty spa market.
The Tamar Dead Sea Regional Council together with the Dead Sea Hotel Association and Israel’s Ministry of Tourism produced a marketing kit, brochure and CD-ROM earlier this year. The package, designed for operators and agents, gives details on the area’s history and hotels.
Each organisation has contributed one-third to a $1m marketing budget for Europe this year, part of which has also been set aside to fund joint promotions with tour operators.
Israel Government Tourist Office director Amnon Lipzin said: “We are offering to pay at least 50% of operators’ marketing costs if they run special promotions to the region.
“The amount we will be putting into this depends on the response from operators but there is enough money for those who want to take up our offer.”
Lipzin said the IGTO is talking to more than four operators that are keen.
The Dead Sea, in the Judean desert, is one of the healthiest places on earth thanks to its position of 400 metres below sea level – the lowest point on the earth.
At this level, the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are filtered, so you can sunbathe for longer, and the air is unpolluted and pollen free. The Dead Sea contains 10 times more salt and minerals than the Mediterranean, making it so buoyant you really can float on the water and read a newspaper.
It is also the source of the famous mud – sold on the beach to slap on all over or used for treatments in the many hotel spas.
The area has 3,200 rooms in hotels including the Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton Moriah, Nirvana and Golden Tulip Privilege, and will have 4,000 rooms by the end of the year with the opening of the Royale Hotel in June and a Novotel in the autumn.
The Dead Sea is featured by operators including Airborne Holidays and The Imaginative Traveller as part of a tour of Israel, and offered as a standalone destination by specialists such as Longwood, Superstar and Peltours.
Pullman, which offers one hotel, is expanding next winter by adding the Hyatt Regency and Nirvana. Managing director Simon Blutstein said:”There is growing demand as the Dead Sea becomes recognised more in the spa and holiday market but I believe it is best sold as part of a tour.”
Peltours marketing manager Darren Panto said it is usually combined with Jerusalem or Eilat. “If people request it for seven nights we check the clients are aware that it is not a resort like Eilat,” he added.
In the day, clients can take excursions to the rock fortress of Masada or to Jerusalem, or go on a jeep safari or hiking in the desert. But in the evening there is no entertainment other than that laid on by the hotels.
As a short-break destination, the Dead Sea and Isrotel’s Carmel Forest Spa Hotel – a major spa resort in the north of the country – are at the upper end of the market, with three nights costing from £400 to £500 depending how many spa treatments are included.
Longwood Holidays managing director Rafi Caplin said:”Israel’s spa product offers are sound value for money but prices are at the higher end of the market so it needs to be promoted in upmarket sectors and possibly more towards older people.”
Superstar Holidays sales manager Andrew Ponton added: “I believe there is interest in the younger market, and seven days gives you time to unwind. It is better value than a UK health farm.”
Israel additions
Peltours: three nights at the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea costs £508 per person bed and breakfast including, flights and shared transfers.
Longwood: seven nights at the Carmel Forest Spa Resort costs from £892 per person full board with flights and free use of spa facilities, tennis courts, and guided hikes into the forest. A package of three treatments costs £29.
Pullman: seven nights at the Sheraton Moriah at the Dead Sea costs from £705 per person bed and breakfast, including flights. A package of four treatments – body peeling, mud pack, massage and aromatic bath – costs £125.