Long-haul breaks could cost less than European holidays this year as hoteliers slash prices and offer deals to drive the luxury market.
Hayes & Jarvis commercial director Niel Alobaidi said discounts of up to 40% were available on some two-week flight-inclusive packages, with Dubai and the Far East proving especially price driven.
Further discounting and value-driven offers are being made by luxury hotels in particular. The operator’s three best-selling hotels in Dubai in January were all five star, whereas just one was in early 2009.
Alobaidi said: “2010 could also be the year when a long-haul holiday can finally prove cheaper than a European trip.
“We are currently selling holidays for spring and early summer where couples can get away to a high-quality resort for a little over £1,000 for two, which obviously helps to explain the boom in luxury long-haul trips.”
The competitive pricing is also being driven by the pound’s strengthening against the Thai baht, Dubai’s dirham and the Egyptian pound, while established hotels are being forced to compete against newly-built properties.
“The new properties are having to give tactical rates to get off the ground and the older properties are having to match them,” Alobaidi said.
The strong pricing, combined with one of the coldest UK winters of the last 30 years, led to a boom in sales for late getaways in January and February, he said, adding that forward bookings for winter 2010-11 were up 60% year on year.
“It’s a case of taking advantage of this trend in the short term as they will bounce back on price in most places,” Alobaidi said.
Click here to view original article by Edward Robertson, Wednesday 3rd March, 2010
