First Choice Becomes First UK Mainstream All Inclusive Holiday Company

LUTON, England, April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading holiday company First Choice (part of TUI UK & Ireland) is marking a major travel industry milestone by becoming the UK's first mainstream holiday company to offer 100% of its hotel and resorts on an All Inclusive basis – including flights, in-resort transfers, hotel accommodation, three meals a day and unlimited local drinks as standard.

Available to book online from May (2011) First Choice's new All Inclusive holidays offering has been created in direct response to the needs of today's consumers who want more control over their holiday spend, and the growing demand for All Inclusive holidays. In five years (2004-2009) the All Inclusive holiday market has grown by 32%, part of the 14.4 million package holidays estimated to be taken in 2010 according to latest research from Mintel**.

Driven by the emerging trend for All Inclusive holidays, which now account for 65% of First Choice sales, budget conscious Brits are cottoning on to the fact that All Inclusive holidays are the way forward. New case study research from First Choice shows that a family of four can save a staggering 511 pounds on an All Inclusive holiday versus a bed and breakfast only holiday for one week***.

All Inclusive holidays can also be significantly less stressful - nearly two-thirds said they would relax more on an All Inclusive holiday****, as everything has been paid for upfront and they don't need to worry about added extras on top of the total cost of the holiday. The research also showed that two-thirds of Brits on non-All Inclusive holidays tend to overspend, a quarter of them by over 20%.

Evening meals are the most likely area where people overspend (40%), followed by 36% who blow the budget on daytime meals and snacks, and 27% who put their over-spending down to long, leisurely evenings spent in the hotel bar.

Johan Lundgren, managing director of TUI UK & Ireland, believes this will build further on the reputation of First Choice as one of the most innovative, yet accessible holiday companies in the UK.  "This is a major milestone for the UK travel industry and an exciting and timely transformation for the First Choice brand.  All Inclusive is becoming the holiday of choice for many British consumers, offering them great value for money, yet there is no mainstream holiday company currently offering a completely All Inclusive portfolio.

"First Choice will become the home of All Inclusive, offering the best of both worlds – a unique feeling of indulgence combined with practical control over their holiday spending – whatever their budget."

Notes to Editors:

* Mintel All Inclusive Holidays Report – UK 2009

** Mintel Package Holidays Report – UK 2010

*** Total difference in holiday cost including flight, transfers, accommodation, and spending money while abroad. First Choice sent a family of four to a 4* First Choice All Inclusive resort in Tenerife (28th March - 4th April 2011), another family of four went to a 4* hotel by another travel company on a B&B basis for the same period.  Average spending costs of the two families were recorded and analysed.

**** Research carried out by Opinion Matters between 17 and 22 March 2011 based on a sample of 1,343 UK adults who holiday abroad.

About First Choice:

First Choice is a trading name of TUI UK Ltd, part of the TUI Travel PLC Group of companies – the UK's leading leisure travel company. First Choice specialises in sunshine holidays, beach holidays and charter flights

Customers expect the travel companies they deal with to have the highest standards of business practice and accountability. First Choice is registered with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL) and part of the Federation of Tour Operators.

PR contact:
Grace Jones
TUI UK Ltd,
Wigmore House
Wigmore Lane
Luton
LU2 9TN
01582 648725
www.thomson.co.uk

SOURCE TUI UK Ltd