The long-haul specialist says it has identified an opportunity to expand the business and support the Irish travel industry.
As well as launching in the Republic, the company also says it will be ramping up its presence in Northern Ireland and has launched a sales incentive for travel agents in both parts of Ireland.
First Class Holidays has appointed a dedicated Irish reservations team to support agents with their customer bookings and requests. Dedicated brochures with Euro pricing will be available to download from the website with physical copies available soon for agents in the Republic.
Daniel Gathercole, Managing Director said: “We are excited to be expanding into Ireland and have lots of plans to engage with agents including events, training, roadshows, fam trips and incentives. First Class Holidays has a long history of supporting UK travel agents and we can’t wait to do the same with our Irish agents.”
To celebrate the launch agents in the Republic can earn 50 Euro Love to Shop vouchers for every booking they make between January 4 and January 31, 2019. Northern Ireland can also benefit from the sales incentive and will receive Love to Shop vouchers at the value of £50 sterling, which can be redeemed in store or online at over 30 brands.
New trips for 2019 include a Canadian Canoe Route, which involves a nine-day self-drive tour from 2102 Euro per person. From canoeing, hiking, rafting on the Ottawa River to the vibrant cities of Toronto and Ottawa, this tour is the perfect balance of city and nature. Highlights include: Guided rafting down the mighty Ottawa River, a stay on the shores of Rice Lake at Elmhirst Resort, and travel on Canada’s VIA Rail from Ottawa to Toronto. The price includes eight nights’ accommodation, eight days’ car rental and free additional driver, 10 meals including four breakfasts, two lunches and four dinners, one day of guided rafting, one day of canoeing and economy class travel with VIA Rail The Corridor train from Ottawa to Toronto. Another tour is the Newfoundland & Labrador Explorer – a 14-day Canada self-drive from 2063 Euro per person.
Start in the modern gateway city of St John’s, Newfoundland, and journey along the coastline following the Labrador Sea, which has some of the most rugged and raw meetings of ocean and shore in Canada. Highlights include: exploring the maritime history of St John’s, iceberg watching at Fishing Point Municipal Park, a visit to the spectacular Gros Morne National Park and searching for puffins on a boat tour in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Price includes 13 nights’ accommodation, 14 days’ car hire with free additional driver, iceberg and whale watching tour, admission to Gros Morne National Park and return ferry transfers from St Barbe to Blanc Sablon.
Other tours include the South Island Explorer – a 17-day New Zealand Self Drive tour from 2693 Euro per person, and Cruise The Kimberley – a 10-night Australia Expedition Cruise from 6305 Euro per person.
First Class Holidays was established in 1996, and is an award-winning independent UK tour operator. The company offers customers a wide choice of inspirational worldwide holidays to experience the best of Canada, America, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and more. Carefully crafted by experts to suit individual customers, every holiday offers what the company says is an exceptional level of service.
First Class Holidays features a range of holiday types for ultimate bucket-list adventures to see iconic cities, breathtaking landscapes and the world’s most famous landmarks. An exciting range of pre-packaged or tailor-made options are available to suit everyone from self-drive tours, city breaks, cruises, rail journeys and wildlife adventures to luxurious mountain or lakeside lodges & resorts and escorted tours. First Class Holidays’ Price Match Promise means if a customer finds the same holiday at a lower cost, the tour operator will match the price.
