Staffordshire operator Leons Coaches anticipates a strong 2018 season after an excellent turn-out for its programme launch in Stafford in November.
Over 220 clients turned up for the event, and were able to meet drivers and managers and view some of Leons’ coaches, including its two flagship Neoplan Starliners. Hotels and other attractions were also represented.
Director Robert Douglas says that although 2017 has not been the easiest year for coach holidays thanks to uncertainty surrounding the pound, the attendance gave heart for the coming season.
Particularly popular are Leons’ tours to Roses on Spain’s Costa Brava, and holidays to England’s south coast. But each year is not a repeat of the previous programme, and Leons constantly adapts its offering to suit demand.
“Tours to London in 2017 have been less popular than usual thanks to various reasons, but we have seen strong interest already in those planned for 2018,” says Robert.
“At one point we had a queue of people waiting to book holidays. While it’s only a small rise, I believe that last week’s interest rate increase has driven customers’ willingness to spend.
“This event has been the busiest since we held the first one in 2012, and that leaves us looking positively at 2018.”
Leons’ holiday programme is split between standard breaks and Platinum, which use four-star hotels.
Besides UK and Irish holidays, continental tours continue to be prominent, including to Austria and Italy, and the operator says that while low-cost airlines have hit European tours to a degree, demand still exists.
Of Leons’ 44-strong fleet (including those of associated operator Happy Days), 14 are dedicated to touring.
The oldest of these are two 2014 Neoplan Starliners. Mr Douglas says that these are being retained for a further season because, in his opinion, no manufacturer has yet produced a suitable replacement.
Van Hool and VDL account for the remainder of the fleet, but Leons is set to welcome two Yutong TC9s for touring in 2018. Mr Douglas says: “Going forward, and subject to pricing, I see the super-high Yutong as being a legitimate challenger of European brands in the touring segment.”
