Dnata Holidays has reported robust summer sales with growth for April to the end of July hitting the 100% mark.
In addition, the percentage of Dnata packages sold by the travel trade has increased from 50% of total business for summer 2007 to 60% for summer 2008. Dnata's regional head of leisure and non-air products, Nick Sheppard, attributed this success to the operator's new improved trade website (www.dnataholidaysagents.com).
"The [revamped] websites - (consumer and trade) - now account for fifteen to 20% of our sales," he told ATN.
"In addition, the travel trade is feeling more confident selling our product and the investment we have made in training our staff and improving their knowledge has paid off."
In terms of top sellers this summer, Dnata Holidays manager Nathan Adams said the "usual suspects" had performed well.
"Both Asia and Europe have been strong, although Europe less so because of the weak dollar against the Euro and the pound," he said.
"We have also seen good demand for our new destinations, particularly Bali - from affordable luxury at the Ritz-Carlton property to top-end accommodation at the Four Seasons and Bvlgari."
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As a result, Dnata Holidays would expand its Bali programme by up to 20% for 2009, Adams revealed.
"It's popular with everyone - honeymooners and couples, families, Arabs and ex-pats," he added.
Top-selling European destinations, said Adams, were France, the UK and Germany, while numbers to Austria and Switzerland picked up post-Euro 2008.
Lakes and cities combinations in Italy sold well, while Park Lane properties in London saw strong business from Dnata Holidays, he added.
Sales to Indian Ocean destinations also improved 60% on last summer, with Mauritius starting to attract more attention. This is one destination looking to sell out for Eid, said Adams, who is planning to promote 12 destinations for the festive break including Istanbul, Cairo, the Maldives, Thailand and Italy.
Dnata Holidays will launch its 2009 programme in early January and hinted that more destinations and possibly multiple brochures - there are currently two - were on the cards.
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