| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 50 |
| Copyright: Other |
Cosmos plans service for seat-only clients
Welcome Centre opens at Sanford Airport
COSMOS is opening a Welcome Centre at Sanford Airport in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, with an area dedicated to flight-only passengers.The centre, which is the first of its kind to be offered by a UK operator, will provide seat-only passengers with a booking service for products such as accommodation, car hire, tickets to local attractions and domestic flights.
Cosmos area manager Steven Graffham said the service will be made available to all passengers, not just those who have booked through Cosmos. He said the operator feels it is necessary to offer such a service as there are few facilities at the airport for booking accommodation and car hire.
“We have seen an incredible increase in seat-only business to Sanford over the past two years, as have all other operators, and it is amazing how many of these travel without booking their accommodation beforehand,” said Graffham.
“People flying into Sanford for the first time expect it to be a big airport, like Orlando International, but in fact it is quite small and a long way out of town. The only facility for booking hotel accommodation when they arrive is a lightbox with details of a few local hotels,” he added.
The Cosmos Welcome Centre will book accommodation from Orlando to the Florida Keys, including hotels, villas and apartments. The accommodation will be taken from Cosmos’ inclusive tours programme, but other properties not already featured by Cosmos will be made available in the lates market.
Alternatively, more independent passengers can buy vouchers for a flat rate of $56 a night for up to four sharing a room, which are valid at 150 hotels and motels across the state, all of which are of a similar standard. A freephone number allows them to book the accommodation in advance, and unused vouchers can be returned for a full refund.
Cosmos has produced a booklet giving details of the Welcome Pass voucher scheme, which it plans to make pre-bookable from the UK as soon as it has its Web site up and running.
“We will eventually offer this service on the Internet but we don’t know when exactly because we are still working on the Cosmos Web site,” said Graffham.
The Cosmos Welcome Centre will be staffed by six to 10 people when Cosmos’ sister airline Monarch has flights landing at the airport, but Graffham said the operator plans to extend its opening hours in the future.
“We are planning to have it staffed even when we don’t have our own charters coming in. Cosmos is a well known name and we are sure people, whoever they have booked their flight with, will feel comfortable booking services through us, knowing that there is always someone they can turn to if things go wrong.”
Cosmos has no idea how many passengers a year are likely to use the centre but Graffham said he expects it would be particularly popular with flight-only clients.
“We are taking a bit of a bold step and feeling our way in the dark, but I know from having been at the airport over the past few years that there are a number of ‘lost’ people arriving who will definitely benefit from this service.”
He added that the Florida Welcome Centre is a one-off for Cosmos, and the operator has no immediate plans to offer the facility elsewhere. “Florida is a unique market and the centre has been designed with that in mind.”
New florida facilities
Florida: the centre has been designed with this unique market in mindFactfile
COSMOS WELCOME CENTRE
Where is it? Sanford Airport, Florida.
Who is it for? There is a dedicated area for flight-only passengers, plus a separate section for Cosmos inclusive tour clients and those travelling on fly-drive packages.
What does it offer? Services include car hire, accommodation, accommodation vouchers, attraction tickets, phone cards and flights from Sanford to Key West on PanAm.
Who can use it? Any flight-only passengers who require any of the above services, including those who have booked flights through other operators.
How will I find it?Follow the Stars and Stripes flooring in the arrivals area.
When is it open? Only when Monarch flights’ land but there are plans to extend the opening hours to have staff available for passengers arriving on other UK charter airlines.