Inghams announced yesterday that it has “reluctantly” decided to cease tour operations from Ireland with effect from winter 2011-12 and that its offices in Dublin will close on Friday 19th August. Ireland Manager Grainne Caffrey, who has been with Inghams for the past five years, will be leaving the company.
Inghams has been a prominent tour operator in the Irish travel industry for the past 25 years, with its summer lakes and mountains and winter ski programmes. The company statement added: “We are writing to the guests who are booked on our Ski 11/12 programme outlining the options open to them. Enquiries should be directed to 1850 92 90 21 (from ROI) or on +44 20 8780 4444.
“Inghams will continue to operate its ski programme from Belfast and 20 other UK airports.”
Belfast to Innsbruck and Geneva
Inghams’ 2011/12 Ski & Snowboard brochure, entitled ‘The Skier’s A-Z’, offers departures from Belfast International Airport to Innsbruck and Geneva to 44 resorts in four countries. It includes 56 new chalets and chalet hotels, three new resorts, and new Inghams Plus savings of up to £600 per couple, including early booking cash-back offers, hotel discounts and upgrades, and savings on ski-packs, lift passes, tuition and ski hire.
Inghams Chief Executive, Andy Perrin, said: “We recognise that times are still hard out there, and the new brochure responds to that overwhelmingly important current trend by going all out to give skiers outstanding value for money. The new chalets are a key part of this drive, with so much already included in the price, that any in-resort spend is kept to the barest minimum. Over £1 million of new ‘Inghams Plus’ deals also go a long way to ensure that Inghams guests now get fantastic value, as well as the first-class service for which the company is known.”
With prices starting from just £535 including flights, transfers, and seven nights fully serviced and catered accommodation, Inghams’ chalet and chalet hotel programme now encompasses 56 properties in 17 resorts, from small, traditional chalets sleeping six, to the new flagship ski-in/ski-out Chalet Hotel St Christoph, high in Austria’s Arlberg ski area, for up to 136 guests, complete with swimming-pool, fireside lounge and bar. All offer high quality cuisine and service, including a full skiers’ buffet breakfast, afternoon tea, and 4- or 5-course dinners with a choice of unrestricted complimentary wines, and tea/coffee to follow.
Also new this winter is a broad-based range of money saver and added value deals under the ‘Inghams Plus’ banner, and detailed on every resort introduction page and beneath each participating hotel. Savings include early booking discounts, two-for-one ski/snowboard-hire saving up to £109 per couple, and a lift pass guarantee, ensuring the best price on pre-booked lift passes. Additional savings include thousands of free child places, one-parent saver discounts of up to 25% in selected hotels, and competitive group discounts, with up to one free place in five, plus a free lift pass for group leaders.
It is sad to see another supplier leave the market, especially one of the caliber of Inghams. This reduction in choice is not good for either consumer or agent.
Grainne is a well known face in our industry for many years and we at Travelsavers wish her the best for the future and thank her for her friendly and professional assistance over the years. I am sure it will only be a matter of time before Grainne reappears in another role in the industry.