First Choice Becomes First UK Mainstream all Inclusive Holiday Company

By Tui Uk Ltd, PRNE
Thursday, April 7, 2011

LUTON, England, April 8, 2011 - Leading holiday company First Choice (part of TUI UK & Ireland) is
marking a major travel industry milestone by becoming the UK's first
mainstream holiday company to offer 100% of its hotel and resorts on an All
Inclusive basis - including flights, in-resort transfers, hotel
accommodation, three meals a day and unlimited local drinks as standard.

Available to book online from May (2011) First Choice's new All Inclusive
holidays (www.firstchoice.co.uk/sun-holidays/all-inclusive-holidays/)
offering has been created in direct response to the needs of today's
consumers who want more control over their holiday spend, and the growing
demand for All Inclusive holidays. In five years (2004-2009) the All
Inclusive holiday market has grown by 32%, part of the 14.4 million package
holidays (www.firstchoice.co.uk/) estimated to be taken in 2010
according to latest research from Mintel**.

Driven by the emerging trend for All Inclusive holidays, which now
account for 65% of First Choice sales, budget conscious Brits are cottoning
on to the fact that All Inclusive holidays are the way forward. New case
study research from First Choice shows that a family of four can save a
staggering GBP511 on an All Inclusive holiday versus a bed and breakfast only
holiday for one week***.

All Inclusive holidays can also be significantly less stressful - nearly
two-thirds said they would relax more on an All Inclusive holiday****, as
everything has been paid for upfront and they don't need to worry about added
extras on top of the total cost of the holiday. The research also showed that
two-thirds of Brits on non-All Inclusive holidays tend to overspend, a
quarter of them by over 20%.

Evening meals are the most likely area where people overspend (40%),
followed by 36% who blow the budget on daytime meals and snacks, and 27% who
put their over-spending down to long, leisurely evenings spent in the hotel
bar.

Johan Lundgren, managing director of TUI UK & Ireland, believes this will
build further on the reputation of First Choice as one of the most
innovative, yet accessible holiday companies in the UK. "This is a major
milestone for the UK travel industry and an exciting and timely
transformation for the First Choice brand. All Inclusive is becoming the
holiday of choice for many British consumers, offering them great value for
money, yet there is no mainstream holiday company currently offering a
completely All Inclusive portfolio.

"First Choice will become the home of All Inclusive, offering the best of
both worlds - a unique feeling of indulgence combined with practical control
over their holiday spending - whatever their budget."

Notes to Editors:

* Mintel All Inclusive Holidays Report - UK 2009

** Mintel Package Holidays Report - UK 2010

*** Total difference in holiday cost including flight, transfers,
accommodation, and spending money while abroad. First Choice sent a family of
four to a 4* First Choice All Inclusive resort in Tenerife (28th March - 4th
April 2011
), another family of four went to a 4* hotel by another travel
company on a B&B basis for the same period. Average spending costs of the two
families were recorded and analysed.

**** Research carried out by Opinion Matters between 17 and 22 March 2011
based on a sample of 1,343 UK adults who holiday abroad.

About First Choice:

First Choice is a trading name of TUI UK Ltd, part of the TUI Travel PLC
Group of companies - the UK's leading leisure travel company. First Choice
specialises in sunshine holidays (www.firstchoice.co.uk/sun-holidays/)
, beach holidays (
www.firstchoice.co.uk/sun-holidays/adult-holidays/beach-escapes/) and
charter flights

Customers expect the travel companies they deal with to have the highest
standards of business practice and accountability. First Choice is registered
with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the
Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL) and part
of the Federation of Tour Operators.

    PR contact:

    Grace Jones
    TUI UK Ltd,
    Wigmore House
    Wigmore Lane
    Luton
    LU2 9TN
    +44-(0)1582-648725
    www.thomson.co.uk

PR contact: Grace Jones, TUI UK Ltd, Wigmore House, Wigmore Lane, Luton, LU2 9TN, +44-(0)1582-648725, www.thomson.co.uk

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