Further to a series of changes implemented across the business last year, Olympic Holidays has stated its intention to further strengthen its holiday proposition by becoming ?The Island Specialist?, and by 2022 ?The Global Island Specialist?.
Clare Tobin, the operator?s CEO, said: ?Here at Olympic, we have more than 55 islands within our portfolio and the majority are in Greece. We are market leaders in this field with more than 50 years? experience and we aim to be the first port of call when people think about booking an island holiday. Our expertise allows us to offer a range of rich and authentic experiences to clients. We hold a treasure trove of local knowledge and we can share these often hidden gems that make for a truly memorable holiday.
?We have undertaken extensive research through customer focus groups and we have listened to what customers want and, in turn, we are thrilled to launch a wealth of new product in 2019. We will become the Google of island knowledge and by focusing on our content and digital strategies we?re going to be able to react instantly in an ever-changing, digitally focused market and offer customers a comprehensive, easy-to-navigate website bursting with information and bespoke packages.?
The operator has introduced ten new island-hopping itineraries which are available now and can be tailor-made with accommodation across a range of price points and inclusive of hotel transfers and ferries. Inter-island flights are also an option with airline partners, including Aegean and Sky Express.
The luxury Gold Collection has also been refined with new properties for 2019 including Ikos Aria on Kos, Olea All Suite Hotel on Zante, Amavi Hotel in Paphos and the Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Limassol.
In tandem with expanding its product offering for adult-only/couples the operator will also be making a more consolidated effort to attract families, offering a greater choice of properties for family fun, experiential family travel and all-inclusive options in 2019. Weddings & Honeymoons and the LGBT market will also be another key area for the company and Olympic Weddings are now on sale for 2020.
With travel agents noted as playing an ?incredibly important part? of the operator?s forward strategy, it?s Love2Shop voucher incentive will be made even more attractive for agents in 2019 with ?20 offered for Island-Hopping bookings, ?10 for Gold Collection and ?5 for all other bookings. Moreover, recognising that approximately 70% of its agents book online the operator has customised its website to offer a greater agent focus, a deals calendar (as requested) and a dedicated news area.
Familiarisation trips in 2018 included visits to Crete and the Sporades, taking agents to experience some of the operator?s new Gold Collection product and Island-Hopping experiences. Similarly for 2019, there are plans to run a competition for agents to win a Gold Collection Greek Island-Hopping Experience with the details to be announced soon.
Tobin concluded: ?Our dedicated sales team will be out on the road throughout the year offering educationals and listening to agents needs and requirements - it is their feedback that really helps to enhance and develop our product.
?We hope that another added benefit of our enhanced call centre in London will mean the team will have time to take educational island-hopping experiences with retail agents. We want to offer new and exciting experiences for loyal customers, we want to convert cruise clients to start island-hopping and to start build a new customer base, one that we can really ?wow? with our product.?
