UK & IRELAND TRAVEL SPECIALISTS CELEBRATING 39 YEARS IN BUSINESS
REBECCA BROOKS UK MANAGING DIRECTOR
ABBEY GROUP TODAY Services: Leisure Groups and FIT Incentive & Luxury Travel Conference & Event Management 3 offices Dublin, Edinburgh, London Market leader in Ireland & the UK privately owned Business from 52 countries 190,000 overseas visitors (2016) 78m turnover Award winning B2B company 39 years of successful trading
ABBEY GROUP DIRECTORS
TRADE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS The Customer Travel Agent Group Organizer Internet/ Intranet Overseas Leisure Tour Operators Individual Tourists Abbey UK Conference Organisers/Incentive Houses Hotels/ Guesthouses Transport Activity/ Special Interest Attractions Festivals Events Conference/ Business Tourism Incentive
WORLDWIDE PARTNERS
A BRIEF HISTORY
ABBEY GROUP BRANDS
ABBEY GROUP TODAY
RECOGNITION 2017 2017 2016 2010 In 2017, Abbey once again named a Deloitte Best Managed Company - presented with the Platinum Award, given to companies that have retained their Best Managed status for eight consecutive years. Abbey Conference & Events 2017, 2016 & 2012 Events industry award for Best Professional Conference Organizer Abbey voted best Tour Operator by Scotland s Heritage Abbey Scotland received the Highlands and Islands Awards Winner for Marketing Initiatives undertaken in the region
OUR LOCATIONS Founded in 1978 and celebrating 39 years in business Based in Dublin, Ireland, Edinburgh, Scotland & London, England HIGHLIGHTS Group Turnover 2016: 78m Group Passenger No. 2016: 190,000 Total Fulltime Staff: 158 61 Group allocation hotels 200,000 group allocation rooms a year 750 FIT allocations hotels 250,000 FIT allocations per year
PASSENGER NUMBER & TURNOVER 2016 PAX 182,500 +15% 9,000 M&K 5m M&K TURNOVER 78m UK-50% into Highlands 41,500 UK 20m Ireland UK Ireland 52m 131,000
MARKET
ONLINE OFFERING World wide Distribution system Exclusively B2B 15 XML links onto our platform Instant availability and confirmation 1,000+ hotels across Ireland & The UK Multiple attractions across Ireland & UK Fully downloadable online tariff Transfers in all major cities Car rental Escorted Coach Tours in multiple language Fly drive programmes One single portal for all services in Ireland & UKs
PRODUCT OFFERING 770+ Accommodation Options in England & Wales 600 + Accommodation Options in Scotland 600+ Accommodation Options in Ireland Full product offering London - hotels, sightseeing, theatre tickets, day excursions, attractions Car touring programmes throughout the UK
SOME STATS AROUND WHAT OUR PEOPLE DO 7,000 quotes sent in 2016 2000 groups operated in 2016 Conferences & Events - 40,000 pax on books to 2020 340,000 bed nights booked in 2016 22,000 confirmed FIT bookings 11,000 confirmed on-line bookings in 2016 We do business with 52 countries 94,000 Invoices Paid in 2016
TOUR OPERATOR CONSIDERATIONS Flight access/charter ability Quality of product & food offering Scalability- tour series & brochure commitment Inclusion of honey pot locations Access to local people, authentic experiences Ease of booking- live inventory * Familiarisation trips- VS, VB, local DMO support Exchange- adds value
PERCEPTIONS- HIGHLANDS PRODUCT Strong, good quality B&B & small hotel offering Castles, country houses- great asset Larger group hotels- quality patchy- West coast & northern highlands Activities- highland games, Whisky and music festivals- an advantage Seasonal opening- extending the season! Winter- snow! On-line availability- speed of response & live inventory
PRIMA REISEN- PARTNERSHIP
AND FINALLY
IN SUMMARY Direct Access, Ability to charter- warm conditions Quality/Trust in tour operator Choices- competition Scandinavia, Ireland Price/quality ratio High expectations on quality All services,must deliver high level of visitor experience Not 100% satisfaction with Scotland services Role of DMC- matching expectations of client Seasonality