Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Customers today are more sophisticated then ever in
their buying habits and are looking for higher quality
products and services. The internet allows people to
search for travel and tourism products more easily
before making a booking. Increasingly, customers are
not just buying travel and tourism 'products' - they
are looking for 'experiences' to satisfy them in their
leisure time, whether in the UK or overseas. This could
be a weekend break in a spa hotel, a mountain biking
holiday in Peru, an art appreciation course in Spain,
a relaxing break in a country house hotel or even
getting married on a remote island in the Caribbean!
Organisations must use market research to anticipate
changes in customers' demands and provide suitable
travel and tourism products to meet their needs.
FOCUS ON INDUSTRY
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE YHA
The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) was founded
in 1930 with the aim of promoting love, care and
understanding of the countryside in principle
and in practice. It was a joint initiative between
rambling, cycling and youth organisations, to meet
the growing demand for simple accommodation for
walkers and cyclists travelling throughout the UK.
Throughout the last 25 years the Association has had
to adapt to a rapidly changing leisure and tourism
scene, with travellers demanding high standards of
accommodation and a range of facilities.
FOCUS ON INDUSTRY
The YHA's charitable objective forms the basis of all
its work:
'To help all, especially young people of limited
means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the
countryside, and appreciation of the cultural values
of towns and cities, particularly by providing Youth
Hostels or other accommodation for them in their
travels, and thus to promote their health, recreation
and education'.
INVESTMENT IN NEW FACILITIES AT CENTER
PARCS
Center Parcs has announced a record occupancy
year (May 2009 - April 2010) and continues to show
confi dence in the UK holiday market with further
investment in new facilities planned for 2010. The
scheduled improvements include upgrading of
existing accommodation, new Exclusive Lodges and
the launch of three new luxury Treehouses. Available
for short breaks from 2011, the three new Treehouses
will be located in the 400 acres of woodland at
Sherwood Forest in Nottingham. The two-storey
Treehouses will feature 4 bedrooms, all with en-
suite bathrooms and private balconies, an open plan
kitchen, dining and living area, a separate games
and entertainment room and a private hot tub. These
new additions follow a record year for Center Parcs
UK. The company's four villages welcomed a record
1.6 million guests from May 2009 to April 2010 and
reported 97% occupancy - the highest occupancy
levels since the group launched in the UK in 1987.
The Association is committed to building bridges
between town and country, and contributing to
international understanding. Its plans for the future
include increasing Youth Hostel usage by creating
a network of facilities in locations for which there is
a high demand, particularly among young people.
The YHA has always been a countryside and
environmental organisation, founded as part of the
'outdoors' movement. This has further developed
into the YHA's adoption of policies that encourage
sustainable use of the countryside, Youth Hostels
and their local communities.
Weblink
Check out this website for more
information on the YHA.
www.yha.org.uk
Weblink
Check out this website for more
information on new developments at
Center Parcs.
www.centerparcs.co.uk
