9 March 2001Creativity and originality are two factors that can put
you ahead of your competitors and may just get you the
piece of business that you are chasing. One tour operator
who relies on these to put him ahead is Mario Scozia of
Chicago-based A&A Holidays.
Last year the company launched a series of programmes
called "Beyond" for the ASEAN region. These packages give
customers a choice of visiting secondary destinations
within the main destination.
The Beyond Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam programmes
were such a success that it prompted Scozia, A&A's
executive director, to launch the second season of the
"Beyond" programme which includes new destinations and an
expanded range of "beyond" points.
The products are "Malaysia Borneo and Beyond" which
includes Sabah and Sarawak; "Vietnam and beyond" which
covers Hanoi with cultural private tours; "Thailand and
Beyond" which emphasises on culture and beaches from
Bangkok to Phuket and Chiangmai; and the new addition of
"Cambodia and Beyond." The latter is new and includes
cultural tours to Angkor Wat and other historical sites The
"Beyond" is part of an 18-day package that takes up to 10
days.
"The most attractive part is the flexibility as we can
customise the package to clients' interests as well as the
time he has," says Scozia.
For example, the Malaysia and Beyond package comprises a
tour of the peninsular of about nine days with the Beyond
portion on Sarawak and Sabah. The seven- day Sarawak
Supreme covers Kuching and Batang Ai and Sabah Supreme
takes in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Gaya Island.
The peninsular programmes are Nature and Culture that
covers Taman Negara, Cherating, Kenyir and the Treasure
Islands of Penang, Langkawi and Pedu Lake.
"Each component can be bought independently, in
continuity or as in totality. The idea is not to rush our
clients through their holidays and to give them the
flexibility to choose where they want to go to and
when."
A&A Holidays is also offering discounts as an
incentive to its clients to make multi trips as well as
build up a base of repeat clients.
Using Malaysia again as an example, Scozia explains,
"Let's say our clients have finished the seven days Nature
and Culture tour at Cherating.
Next year for their second trip to Malaysia they can
pick up the tour where they left off and continue with
Treasure Islands or other components.
They will be given a discount in points. Each point is
equivalent to X number of dollars. They can accumulate the
points and use them to offset the price of packages."
Scozia says there is no time frame to redeem the points.
Clients can use them as and when they want to.
A&A Holidays will launch the 2001-2002 brochure with
the new series of Beyond holidays in April.
Contact: Aaholidays@aol.com