Superbreak Mini-Holidays is predicting a bumper year for the special-occasions market as customers book weekend breaks to mark the millennium year.
The UK market leader, launching its 2000 brochure, predicted people will treat themselves to weekends away to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other annual events.
Sales director Ian Mounser said Valentine’s weekend sparked a bookings boom while Mother’s Day weekends are already outselling last year.
New ventures including spa weekends and trips on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express should sell well, he added.
“Our belief is that people will push the boat out when it comes to special occasions this year,” said Mounser.
The new spa weekends feature the Inglewood Health Hydro in Berkshire with two-night packages starting at £204 per person.
“This is the right time to introduce these special packages,” said Mounser.
He also predicted another strong year for theatre breaks with The King and I and The Witches of Eastwick opening later in the year.
The operator has added the four-star Malmaison hotel group to its portfolio bringing the total number of properties to 760.
Five Malmaison hotels are featured in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Travelodges have also been added to the programme.
In the Goldenrail programme, which targets the economy end of the market, cut-price first-class rail travel is available on First Great Western to the southwest and Wales.
It follows a similar deal struck last year with Great North Eastern Railways which continues in 2000. Meanwhile, Claire Graham has joined Superbreak as sales and services manager. She will be responsible for visiting 700 agents in the Midlands and South Wales and provide product updates, training and sales development ideas.
Graham was recruited from American Express where she was senior travel counsellor.