The ‘make a quick buck’ attitude does not work for Webtours and we have decided not to participate in local accommodation requirements for the Soccer World Cup 2010 influx of foreign visitors!!!

We are constantly touted with emails from establishments trying to rent out properties over this period. Airline and accommodation prices have been hiked to exorbitant rates. It is extremely frustrating to find that you can only purchase a 7 day holiday to Mauritius over the SWC season due to flight allocations, and you cannot purchase any decent priced seats for clients wanting to visit Europe over this period as the Airlines are holding on to all their allocations. There are going to be large number of airlines arriving in SA packed to capacity with SWC fans – and we can only hope that the Airlines will soon release some specials so that we can escape the madness and enjoy a holiday abroad.
Who knows but at the moment we are playing the ‘waiting game’…

2009 saw re-launch of a hotel group of properties in Mauritius at very affordable rates – it was stiff competition for our usual Beachcomber, Club Med and WLH groups and the market was shaken up from head to toe. I had my reservations about the offers, so in August I decided to pop in to a few of these resorts so see what all the noise was about, and yes, I was really disappointed. The properties I viewed, although advertised as 4* – were most definitely not, yet clients were clamouring to book as the prices were low. Thank goodness we managed to persuade a few of them to rather pay a couple of bucks more and go to a resort where their dreams of a truly magical holiday and Mauritian experience were realized. We are brutally honest with clients when we advise them about resorts and destinations around the world, after all we work on repeat business and client referrals which has brought us huge success – our staff complement doubled in 2009 – a global recession year, so we must be doing something right.

OK, so we travel extensively – in 2009, I did two trips to Mauritius, one to Seychelles, a trip to Europe, a cruise on the Med and then a quick jaunt on the Sinfonia with my family in December - so when I discuss honeymoons and getaways with clients… I know what I am talking about. I also believe that my consultants should enjoy the same benefits and have personal experience of the destinations they are promoting. Its quite amazing that so many consultants that sit opposite you in a mall or office, have never travelled before so have actually very little knowledge of their product and rely on a brochure or the internet to assist you..