Club 18-30 upgrades website for booking peak

Changes have been made to the Club 18-30 website to improve both the “experience and efficiency” for users in the new year peak booking period.

New features on the site include validated search criteria, enhanced content and a streamlined booking process. The site’s online booking facility for the trade has been improved.

Head of worldwide sales Stephen Vaughan said: “It is no secret that our new website with online and flexible booking facility has been key to Club 18-30’s success in 2005 which is why we are investing in these developments to further improve this resource for agents.

“The website has a dedicated section for agents, which has received very positive feedback to date, providing a wealth of information about Club 18-30 resorts in addition to an online booking facility for the trade.

“These enhancements have been made as a direct result of feedback from agents and views expressed at our Regional Travel Agents Forums and will ensure the site provides them with a timely and valuable additional resource to deal with Club 18-30 bookings in the peaks period,” he added.

“The improved search criteria will mean the system will only display valid options when checking an enquiry, reducing the need to refer to the brochure to check flight routes and flight dates; this makes the process much more intuitive for agents.

“The streamlined booking process will also reduce the time taken to process a booking while the enhanced content on the site will provide agents with everything their customer will want to know about the resort, how much it costs, weather information and local tips.

“This will be particularly helpful for agents wanting to know more about our new resorts for 2006, such as Bulgaria which we are forecasting could become the hit of the summer for the youth market,” said Vaughan.

He revealed that early bookings show that the Eastern Mediterranean remains popular for 2006 with sales to Corfu, Zante, Kos and Crete all strong. The introduction of Turkey and Bulgaria for next summer has “captured the imagination” of customers looking for a new experience, claimed Vaughan.

“The Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach offers a great summer climate, spectacular white sandy beach, exceptionally cheap prices and lively atmosphere making it the perfect Eastern European alternative to both Greece and Spain,” he said.

“From clear blue sea, an immaculate beach and guaranteed sun, to energetic bars & clubs that’ll keep you going ‘til dawn, we are confident that this brand new addition is set to be a firm favourite for 2006,” Vaughan added.

Other destinations Vaughan believes will be popular in 2006 include Ibiza and mainland Spain.

“Ibiza remains a firm favourite with the music lovers and despite the perennial rumours of its demise Ibiza maintains its appeal year in year out,” said Vaughan. “The return to Catalonia for 2006 featuring Lloret de Mar and Barcelona in the programme, with twin centre options available for those customers who cannot decide between the two, are also expected to sell well.”

Report by Phil Davies