17 Mar 2022
Original Travel reports that 62% of its 2022 bookings are from new clients – an increase of over 20%
Tailormade tour operator, Original Travel has seen business boosted with 62% of bookings taken in 2022 coming from new clients, up from 40% on the same period pre-pandemic.
Anecdotally, many of these new clients are not just new to Original Travel, but new to tour operators entirely and whilst repeat business and happy clients is a source of pride for the company, new clients means growth; growth that Original Travel attributes to travellers seeking the safety net of a tour operator during this uncertain time – and splurging on bigger, more adventurous trips.
Despite travelling getting gradually easier, the sustained period of fast-changing rules, closed borders and shifting restrictions, has dented consumer confidence in planning a holiday – and should the worse happen and a trip gets cancelled, there are so many obstacles to overcome, from language barriers to time differences to wrangling refunds from multiple companies. Book with a tour operator and all that is taken care of; clients can enjoy all the holiday, with none of the admin. No surprise then that a recent ABTA survey showed that 7 out of 10 would be more likely to book with an ABTA member.
Book with Original Travel – a member of both ABTA and ATOL - and there are a raft of unique services to help even further, from flexibility that allows clients to change their dates or destination up to 30 days prior to departure; an insurance policy that includes covid-related cancellations; a network of Concierges - local, on-the-ground contacts to facilitate any last-minute changes; and airport services to fast-track through check-in and security and guarantee lounge access, even if you're flying economy.
Tom Barber, Founder of Original Travel, says: 'We have all been dreaming, planning and anticipating 2022's holidays for nearly two years, so it's no surprise that Original Travel is welcoming new clients who haven't booked with a tour operator before - and welcoming back previous clients who are returning to us after turning to the “dark side” of DIY holidays. The normal 60/40 split of repeat bookers and new clients has been flipped on its head this year so far. The common factor is that people want their much-anticipated trips to be absolutely perfect, and that means booking with people who really know their destinations, such as tour operators like Original Travel, who also offer financial protection, help in navigating the new and ever-changing rules and booking flexibility to allow for unavoidable changes.
'The types of holidays we've been booking for our new clients are highly itinerised with lots of moving parts, made up of multiple destinations, excursions, activities and – in an increasing number of cases – travelling by train instead of plane. They are complicated and time-consuming trips to plan and book – in fact, our research has shown that booking through us can reduce the time spent planning a trip from 16 hours to two, the number of websites visited from 27 to four and the number of calls made and emails sent from 10 to one and 13 to five respectively
Alex Carey, Head of Sales and Services for Original Travel, adds: 'We have repatriated stranded clients and made numerous last-minute changes over the course of the pandemic and all it took them was one phone call to us. Gratifyingly, we are now starting to see repeat business from those clients. As an example, when Grenada changed the rules for entry for non-vaccinated teens, we had to divert a family travelling there with us with just 24-hours' notice, sending them to an alternative Caribbean island, which they enjoyed so much that they have just booked to go back.'
Sample bookings made in February 2022 for new clients include:
This two-week road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas is jam-packed full of the region's ultimate highlights, including pit stops at Monterey for whale-watching, wine-tasting in Napa Valley, hiking in Yosemite National Park and mountain biking down Mammoth Mountain. After two days exploring Death Valley, finish the trip in glitzy, ritzy Las Vegas.
Prices from £3,520pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, car hire and 13 nights' B&B accommodation. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk)
With its beautiful landscapes and delicious cuisine, Sri Lanka is the perfect location for a magical honeymoon. This 15-day itinerary takes you from Kotugoda to the Tea Hills, Gal Oya National Park to spend time with the Vedda, the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of central Sri Lanka, Yala for a wildlife safari and finally, rural Galle, the heart of the South coast and a great place for some R&R.
Prices from £3,320 pp, based on two sharing and including return flights, all overland transport and 14 nights' B&B accommodation. Original Travel (020 3582 4990; www.originaltravel.co.uk)
Start this two-week itinerary diving the wild, unexplored coast of East Bali, including The Jetty, located in the middle of Amuk Bay and featuring an abundance of technicolor critters from nudibranch to blue-ringed octopus and Manta Point, which swarms with mantas. Onwards to the undiscovered island of Alor - a diving mecca rich with marine life and healthy reefs, without the crowds. From drift dives to channel dives, coral and muck diving, scalloped hammerheads to sea snakes; no two dives will ever be the same. Finish the trip unwinding and rejuvenating among Ubud's billowing rice paddies and ancient temples.
Prices from £3,115pp, based on two sharing and including return and internal flights and 13 nights' B&B accommodation. Original Diving, 020 3911 0431, www.originaldiving.com.
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For more information contact:
020 3582 4990
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Notes to Editors:
Original Travel curates tailor-made itineraries, crafted by destination experts, to 77 countries worldwide from Anguilla to Zimbabwe. Since its launch in 2003, it has created 50,000 itineraries, each unique and adhering to the company ethos that “Life is in the Detail”.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Original Travel launched a flexibility pledge that allows clients to change their dates or destination up to 30 days prior to departure. For new bookings made before 30th April and for departures until 31st December 2022, while you still need to pay a 20% deposit at the time of booking, your final balance is now not due until 30 days before travel (this is usually 60 days). We will also offer you the full flexibility to change the trip up to 30 days prior to departure. You can, for any reason, change your destination to any other, and to any date up until the end of 2022, and there will be no charge. For all bookings where we cannot fulfil the trip due to changes in travel restrictions, we will postpone your trip - again at no charge - to any departure date until the end of 2022, or offer credit against any future departure, or refund all monies paid.
Original Travel is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd, who are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and who offer a brand new travel insurance policy that includes cover for cancellation or curtailment of a trip due to contracting coronavirus, or through being quarantined or refused permission to travel due to infection or suspected infection. This insurance policy is only valid for travel to countries where there is no FCDO advice against all but essential travel. Full details can be found on a new section on Original Travel's website, entitled 'Coronavirus Confidence'.
Original Travel also has its own specialist dive division. Original Diving is the world's only luxury dive travel outfit.
Three of our consultants were recognised in Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Travel Specialists list, including Co-founder Tom Barber as family specialist, Jacqui Brooks as Indonesia specialist and Oliver Rodwell as Mexico specialist, giving an excellent snapshot of our expertise.
Original Travel clients enjoy a wealth of additional services they would not find with any other UK tour operator, including:
- Access to a network of 70-plus Concierges who live locally, know their destinations inside and out and are extremely well-connected. They lend fantastic ground support, offering insider recommendations, facilitating any last-minute changes and troubleshooting.
- A brace of Original Services designed to make departure easier than ever. Every Original Travel client, regardless of whether they're off on a long weekend to Seville, or a multi-destination sabbatical, will enjoy UK airport meet and greet, fast track UK check-in, fast track UK security*, lounge access and pre-booked flight seats. There are also upgrade options to include: a luggage transfer service from your home to the airport; fast track check-in and security and lounge access on your flight home; fast track through immigration on your return to the UK.
- The knowledge that not only will Original Travel absorb the carbon footprint of their international flights, but also - in an industry-first - car-hire and transfers, and other flights (even if booked independently).
- The knowledge that they are contributing to Our Foundation, which supports nearly 100 humanitarian projects in 30 developing countries. To date, nearly £1.5 million has been invested to support five key areas: child protection, vocational training, economic development assistance, preservation of cultural and natural heritage and safeguarding the lifestyles of indigenous people
