Spain is still tops with the Brits, demand for a minimum of two to three holidays per annum is the norm and quality and luxury are increasingly being demanded - these are trends identified by Club La Costa among its 50,000 plus membership.
CLC on the Costa Del Sol
And in its analysis of booking trends, ABTA (the Association of British Travel Agents) also places Spain first in its top ten list of holiday destinations, with France second. It also cites Portugal and Turkey, in 7th and 9th spots respectively, as doing particularly well.
Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels is a leading force in holiday ownership in Europe with 22 fully-owned resorts across Europe - and more on the way - and access for its members to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide. It also develops high quality resorts, as well as full and fractional ownership holiday homes in Spain, Tenerife, the UK and Turkey.
"Spain accounted for almost two-thirds of all reservations made during 2007 and shows little sign of easing off. In fact, members seem to be treating Spain as an automatic choice of holiday destination but combining this with at least one or two other breaks, including drive-to resorts in the UK as well as experimenting with the newer and increasingly popular locations of Portugal and Turkey," says Julie Fenlon, Group Travel Manager for Club La Costa.
PricewaterhouseCoopers reports that the luxury travel market has grown between 8 per cent and 9 per cent over the past few years with people prepared to spend on top-end holidays. But it is not just the super-rich who want luxury holidays and services. Club La Costa is responding to increasing demand for luxury at all its resorts, some offering concierge and other benefits, and the Club La Costa Yacht Club is in its second year of operation.
"The key to our members' satisfaction is the delivery of the quality they have come to expect," says Fenlon. Club La Costa has acquired resort accommodation to meet its members' requests in both Portugal and Turkey, introducing its signature style of furnishings and high-class interiors wherever possible. "We are currently developing a new resort on the beach near Bodrum which will provide even more choice. Many members tell us they only want to holiday in resorts where the quality is as high as in our own; that is our focus for the future," she adds.
With no airport waits, top class entertainment and culture, rising standards of accommodation and food, the UK domestic short break is also becoming increasingly attractive. Club La Costa has three resorts in superb locations in Cornwall and Scotland, each having a very high level of accommodation, food, service and facilities. The popularity of these resorts has resulted in an even larger percentage of its membership enjoying four or more holidays a year!
