Global 2010: Travel 2 to launch luxury brand in 2011

Travel 2 is to launch a new luxury brand following its move towards package holidays.
 
The company launched brochures featuring package holidays for the first time at the beginning of the year and is striving to become known as a tour operator rather than a flight consolidator.

Speaking at the Global Travel Group conference, managing director Andy Freeth said plans were underway to introduce a luxury brand in early 2011.
 
"I have started meeting ground handlers and suppliers to see what we need. It will be an end-to-end service, not just a brochure. It will have its own bespoke micro site and in-resort service."
 
The operator launched the first phase of its new website in January, and plans to introduce the second phase, which will allow agents to book dynamic packages online, by the end of May.
 
The proportion of sales coming through the site have already grown from 1% to 8%, but Freeth aims for it to be 15%.
 
Freeth also plans to trial an initiative which allows agents to have MSN Messenger conversations with the Travel 2 team. "We will have people on hand to answer your questions," he said.

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