LONG-haul specialist Hayes and Jarvis has assured agents it is not sacrificing its upmarket image despite increasing its charter capacity for next year.
In its 1999/2000 Worldwide brochure, on sale this week, the operator has moved more of its products to the upper end of the market while keeping its quality budget accommodation.
Product director Declan Morton said the operator needed to re-affirm its quality profile while continuing to offer charter flights.
“We want to emphasise to our partner agents that we are not looking to run a pure charter programme and have increased our range of quality accommodation. There is a movement in our new brochure to maintain our upmarket profile.”
Morton said the charter share of Hayes and Jarvis business has increased from 30% five years ago to 50%. Recent growth has come via Air 2000, the in-house airline of parent First Choice.
“Charters offer excellent value,” he said.
New products include the resort of Cayo Coco on the north coast of Cuba, while hotels have been added in Costa Rica, Peru and Ecuador. In the Caribbean, the Turks and Caicos Islands are new along with a charter programme to Jamaica with Air 2000. Emphasis has also been placed on expanding Mexico with Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific Coast, and Cancun both featured. Programmes in Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia and the Maldives have all been bolstered.
Morton said growth of up to 20% is being targeted. The operator carried 120,000 clients in 1998/99.
Prices have been held at 1998 levels and lead in at £469 per person for seven nights in Puerto Vallarta. The London-based operator will launch dedicated programmes to North America and Australia next month.