Great Little Breaks’ latest (and rather lovely) affiliation is with The Great British Florist. Launched in 2012 out of concern that more than 90% of the flowers sold in the UK are imported, most from 3,000 miles away, its slogan is, quite simply, “Grown not flown”. The company’s ethos is not only environmentally friendly (reducing the impact of intensive flower farming on countries, and keeping flower miles to less than a tenth of their foreign counterparts)
Through this partnership, Great Little Breaks customers now have the opportunity to buy flowers via a link on the website, and a bouquet is included with all Great Little Romantic Breaks – delivered to the hotel on the day of arrival. For special occasion breaks – such as Mother’s Day or Easter - this is an ideal extra to add onto one’s booking. And loyal customers are now rewarded: anyone booking four breaks in a 12-month period is sent a bouquet as a thank you.
One year on and the Great Little Breaks brand has really taken off, with satisfaction levels extremely high: 98% of customers say they would use Great Little Breaks again, and 98% would recommend the company to a friend.
The brainchild of Vivienne Hudson-Findlay, Great Little Breaks offers hundreds of all-inclusive packages and breaks that include accommodation in hotels and apartments, attraction passes, entrance to heritage properties, spa treatments and all sorts of extras for free, from afternoon tea to cocktails and dinner, and from family attraction tickets to discount shopping vouchers.
Offering 13 types of break (including Great Little Christmas Breaks, Great Little Gourmet Breaks, Great Little Family Breaks, Great Little Inclusive Breaks and Great Little Theatre Breaks), the biggest-selling packages have been Great Little Heritage Breaks to Chatsworth, Great Little City Breaks in Cheltenham, Great Little London Breaks and Great Little Ramblers Breaks in Northumberland.
Favourite destinations have proved to be Gloucestershire, South Yorkshire, Cheshire, Hampshire and Derbyshire. Last-minute bookings (within a month of departure) are extremely common and reflect a growing trend for short-termism, caused by the economic recession. So astonishingly vast are the savings via Great Little Breaks’ exclusive offers (often as much as 60% off) that people have been speedy to sign up to be sent the latest special offers, growing the company’s database by around 150,000 in under 12 months.
And such has been the enthusiasm for the new brand that relationships with high street travel agents have swiftly been established to extend these offerings to a wider audience. Several partnerships have been created - including with Affordable Car Hire, offering the best value car hire in the market, and with Asperity, the UK's largest and most-used employee discounts scheme – with a view to consistently expanding the spectrum of Great Little Breaks’ services.
A couple of current exclusive Great Little Breaks:
Great Little Christmas Break
60% OFF CHESHIRE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, £50: With Great Little Breaks (08448 488 488; www.greatlittlebreaks.com)
Great Little Harbour Break
60% OFF DORSET HARBOUR BREAK, £50: Great Little Breaks (08448 488 488; www.greatlittlebreaks.com)
A couple of recent quotes from customers:
“I have used you a few times and have been satisfied every time, Keep the deals going and please notify me when they come up”. R.W., Huddersfield
“Excellent value for money - I'll be looking for more of these breaks in the future”. R.S., Cheshire
For further information, visit http://www.greatlittlebreaks.com or call 08448 488 488
ENDS / 16 NOVEMBER 2012
Notes to editors: Managing Director Vivienne Hudson-Findlay is available for interview – please contact Travel PR.
Press enquiries: Travel PR, tel: 020 8891 4440; Mika Bishop, email: m.bishop@travelpr.co.uk or Mischa Mack, email: m.mack@travelpr.co.uk.
