26 June 2008

Lucketts adds to the trophy cabinet with key tourism award

COACH travel giant Lucketts is this week celebrating a major tourism award for its day excursion programme which has seen passenger numbers rise by almost 80 per cent in the last 12 months.

The Fareham based company has picked up Day Excursion Programme of the Year in The Coach Tourism Awards which honours the country’s leading operators.

More than 350 industry leaders attended the prestigious awards and Lucketts managing director Ian Luckett said he was delighted to pick up this award.

“In the past we have won Coach Tourism Awards for our innovation and brochures and this year business in the day excursion market has been booming and we are pleased that this has been recognised with such an important industry award.’’

Mr Luckett said that in the last 12 months the company has seen a 78 per cent increase in passenger numbers on the day excursion programme which he said was down to a number of factors.

“We know that day trips are really popular with our customers and we have concentrated on introducing new destinations and trips, we have expanded our marketing efforts to ensure that people are aware of this and we have a sophisticated website for people to book online,’’ he said.

Among the most popular day excursions are London theatre trips and this year trips to the Tutankhamun Exhibition & Golden Age of the Pharoah have been among the fastest selling.

“Traditional events such as Hampton Court Flower Show, Cadbury World and Lakeside shopping are always popular and the addition of new and exciting destinations and events ensure that we continue to offer customers a wide range of choice, and a reason to come back for more.’’

Lucketts Travel has a 50-strong fleet of coaches and has this year invested more than three quarters of a million pounds in the very latest coaches together with ongoing investment in driver training and new travel launches.