| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 4 |
| Copyright: Other |
Cosmos boosts short-haul programme
Operator to bolster its presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Steve Jones reports
COSMOS is aiming to strengthen its presence in the eastern Mediterranean as it looks for a capacity increase of 25% across its short-haul programme in summer 2001.Launching its first Greece, Cyprus and Turkey programme – with plans to split them into stand-alone brochures – the operator said it needed to expand its 2.5% market share in the region.
The move comes as the operator unveiled a new look to freshen up its image with agents.
Sales and marketing director Paul Riches said: “The new image is fresher and emphasises our modern, forward-looking ethos.”
Managing director Nigel Wright said growth in the eastern Med will mainly come from Greece and Cyprus.
“We have 5% market share in the western Med but only 2.5% in the eastern Med. We need to address that,” said Wright. “Last year we featured a Greece and Turkey brochure but lost out in the early-booking market after launching in August. With the early launch, we are confident we can achieve this growth at decent margins.”
New in Greece is the island of Lesbos while Greek Island Wandering itineraries have also been added.
Wright said Turkey could have been in better shape if the tourist board had reacted quicker to last year’s turmoil.
“It only launched a campaign in March when it should have started in January. It was very slow getting off the mark,” he said.
Across all its short-haul products, Cosmos is focusing on the family market with two free child places at its best selling properties available.
Product manager Danny Talbot vowed there will not be a cheaper time for a family of four to book their summer 2001 holiday.
“Both children going free is a first for us and probably for the industry,” he said. “Discounts later in the year will not match this early offer.”
Special savings are also on offer for single-parent families while savings of £350 per couple are available when combined with an early-booking flight saver. Prices have risen by 3%.
Discounts in the brochures have been made clear to avoid customer confusion, added Talbot.
New deals: Talbot, left, and Wright show off the new 2001 brochures which features Lesbos, above, for the first time