Go for Gold in 2012 with Grand UK Holidays

7th October 2011

Grand UK Holidays has launched an upmarket coach brand for 2012 to cater for growing demand for luxury escorted tours.

Called Grand UK Gold, the new holiday brand will offer state-of-the-art coaches in stylish livery, accommodation in top hotels, and special ‘extras’ such as a welcome reception and a commemorative photograph.

Grand UK’s parent firm, The UK Holiday Group, has bought the first of many new ‘Gold’ coaches, which will feature reclining leather seats offering extra legroom and individual air conditioning. Passengers can follow the progress of their tour on the onboard satellite navigation system, and have access to a library. 

Harold Burke, Grand UK sales director, said: “As British athletes are going for gold in 2012, we will be offering our customers the chance to do the same with our new Grand UK Gold holidays.

“We are excited by this fresh concept in luxury coach holidays, which will usher in a new era of first-class coach tours.

“We have seen increased bookings over recent years for our tours which feature upmarket accommodation so we are confident this new brand will cater for that growing demand – and attract new customers who may not have considered a coach holiday before.”

The Grand UK Gold tours are featured in the operator’s 2012 brochure, which boasts a gold-themed cover to celebrate the introduction of the new brand.  

The 20 tours in the Gold selection cover destinations across the UK and Ireland, as well as Europe.

They include a new ‘Sussex Explorer’ tour, which offers the chance to visit Arundel Castle, and a new holiday to see the once-in-a-decade Floriade 2012 horticultural exhibition in Holland.

Burke said: “This will be another lucrative opportunity for our travel agent partners – our range of tours goes from our new ‘Summer Superdeals’ for cost-conscious customers up to the new Gold brand, for clients who are happy to upgrade for extra benefits.

“And our Gold holidays are still great value for money – our five-day Dorset Coast & Country holiday costs £289pp for the ‘Gold’ option in October, and our ‘Gold’ Lark Rise to Downton Abbey tour is £359 for five days in July.”  

The new 2012 brochure also features 45 new tours in the UK, Ireland and Europe, ranging from special interest and themed breaks to river cruises and a new holiday by train.