Major Travel has secured more direct contracts with hotels in the UAE, including Dubai, which it said will help agents compete with direct-sell operators.
While Major Travel is better known for holidays to the US, it launched packages to the UAE in 2021 and so far this year it has booked more than 2,000 passengers to the emirates, the vast majority to Dubai.
Director of Strategy and Development Abbas Datoo said Major is looking to further boost business not only to Dubai but also the other emirates including Abu Dhabi, Oman, Qatar and Ras Al Khaimah.
Based on current sales, it is expecting to carry 6,000 passengers to the UAE this year.
“We have secured more direct contracts with hotels, especially those hotels not featured by other operators, so we can offer agents more exclusives,” said Abbas.
“These contracts will make travel agents more competitive than the direct-sell operators.
“One of the things we always hear from agents is that they want to be able to compete with the likes of British Airways Holidays, so what we are offering them now is alternative hotels that are more competitive.”
Abbas said steering clients towards Dubai’s lesser-known neighbouring emirates would also enable them to compete.
“That is where we see some real growth opportunities,” said Abbas, shortly after attending this month’s Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai. “For instance, for the luxury market, you will get a lot more bang for your buck in Qatar, which has great beach resorts, stunning shopping malls and a feel of real elegance.
“I think we will grow in the Middle East and generally in the Indian Ocean this year,” he added.
Major Travel said the operator’s growth in destinations other than the US had been boosted by being named Agents’ Favourite Tailormade Company in last year’s Travel Gossip Awards.
“That really did help us because it changed perception of us as being only a US operator,” added Abbas. “We learned during COVID that we had to diversify the business.”
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While Major Travel is better known for holidays to the US, it launched packages to the UAE in 2021 and so far this year it has booked more than 2,000 passengers to the emirates, the vast majority to Dubai.
Director of Strategy and Development Abbas Datoo said Major is looking to further boost business not only to Dubai but also the other emirates including Abu Dhabi, Oman, Qatar and Ras Al Khaimah.
Based on current sales, it is expecting to carry 6,000 passengers to the UAE this year.
“We have secured more direct contracts with hotels, especially those hotels not featured by other operators, so we can offer agents more exclusives,” said Abbas.
“These contracts will make travel agents more competitive than the direct-sell operators.
“One of the things we always hear from agents is that they want to be able to compete with the likes of British Airways Holidays, so what we are offering them now is alternative hotels that are more competitive.”
Abbas said steering clients towards Dubai’s lesser-known neighbouring emirates would also enable them to compete.
“That is where we see some real growth opportunities,” said Abbas, shortly after attending this month’s Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai. “For instance, for the luxury market, you will get a lot more bang for your buck in Qatar, which has great beach resorts, stunning shopping malls and a feel of real elegance.
“I think we will grow in the Middle East and generally in the Indian Ocean this year,” he added.
Major Travel said the operator’s growth in destinations other than the US had been boosted by being named Agents’ Favourite Tailormade Company in last year’s Travel Gossip Awards.
“That really did help us because it changed perception of us as being only a US operator,” added Abbas. “We learned during COVID that we had to diversify the business.”
The post Major Travel secures more direct contracts with UAE hotels to boost agent sales appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
