A start-up tour operator aiming to offer ‘real package holidays’ at keen prices plans to launch to the trade in the next four weeks.
Holiday Best has secured an Atol for just under 81,000 passengers and is focusing on four key destinations – Turkey, Greece, Spain and Egypt – but offers holidays worldwide.
The operator has gone on sale this week to consumers for this summer and from May 2024 will offer its own exclusive charter flights with Southwind Airlines out of nine regional airports to Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey.
Chief marketing officer John Milburn, who joined the company in January and previously worked for Hays Travel as homeworking and marketing director, said conversations will start next week with key travel agency consortia to strike commercial deals.
He said: “We have spent the last six months getting everything in place, building the website and getting our Atol.
“Over the next four weeks we plan to launch B2B and reach out to the agency consortia and put commercials in place. We will be very trade-friendly and will offer full price parity with our B2C site.”
Milburn said he hoped the operator would achieve around 35% of its sales via the trade.
He admitted the company had bold targets of competing with the large package holiday players such as easyJet Holidays and Jet2holidays in the UK market and stressed its prices would be particularly “keen”.
He said the company aimed to bring a competitive edge and “unique airlift” to the market.
“We know there are some big players out there but we think there is room in the market for some new players. It’s about offering a real package holiday that is good value for money where you are well looked after,” he said. “We are hoping to get into that competitive space with the big boys.”
The company plans to offer private transfers as “standard” for the majority of its holidays within the headline price while it also plans to have reps in resort in Turkey this summer and in its top destinations next year. Durations will vary from four to 14 nights.
Packages are offered from July 2023. It is offering deposits from £50, which it claims to be the lowest in the market.
Milburn said January 2024 would be a real opportunity for the company in terms of gaining volumes in the market. “Between now and then it’s about building up the brand and getting under the skin of the trade and consumers,” he said.
Private investment has come via the company’s owner, who also runs tour operators in other countries outside the UK, said Milburn.