Trade-only operator Typically Holidays is preparing to expand the luxury programme it soft-launched last year, after bringing in Simon Garrido as Business Development Director.
Simon joined last week in the newly created role and Typically Managing Director Daniele Broccoli told Indulge his expertise in the upmarket holiday sector was a key reason he was appointed.
He previously worked at Specialist Holidays Group, which includes the Italy specialist Citalia Holidays and upmarket brand Sovereign Luxury Travel. Before that, he was Head of Sales at Travelopia.
Daniele said: “I launched Typically Luxury because agents were asking for an upmarket programme. We spent 18 months selecting the product and I believe that it’s a two- or three-year project to get it off the ground properly. Simon has the knowledge and expertise about how to do this the right way, with years of experience, including with Citalia and Sovereign.”
Daniele said the programme has ‘the most beautiful five-star hotels’, not just in Italy, but also Spain and Portugal. They include the Grand Hotel da Vinci Cesentatico and the Grand Hotel Rimini (pictured), where Princess Diana once stayed.
Also in the programme are city break destinations elsewhere in Europe, such as Budapest, Majorca, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Paris and Zurich. There are 45 hotels currently in the collection, with more to be added.
He said: “We look after all our guests, but with the luxury product, everything has to be 150% right. Our luxury transfers are in a top-of-the-range, chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars and, for customers travelling to Naples, we can arrange for them to be met right off the plane.
“We are trade-only, and agents know that if they have a client with a particular request, we will look after them.”
Daniele is currently accompanying 15 agents on Typically Luxury’s first fam trip, where they are experiencing some of the highlights of the programme, including a cooking course and excursions with private guides.
