Etihad Holidays, a division of Etihad Airways, has unveiled ambitious plans to expand its franchise of innovative and interactive holiday shops across the UAE and the GCC and open up to 12 new outlets during the next two years.

The announcement follows the launch of two hugely successful holiday shops in Al Wahda Mall and Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi in 2008 which has helped Etihad Holidays increase its revenue by more than 140 per cent, when compared to the first four months of 2007.

The new holiday shops, planned to roll out across the GCC will provide customers with a complete travel sales experience, offering holidays to key Etihad destinations as well as the full range of Etihad Airways products and services.

There will also be considerable expansion of Etihad Holidays’ operations across the UAE with new shops scheduled to open in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall in July and the new Balwadi Mall in Al Ain due to open late 2008.

Tony Gauci, head of Etihad Holidays, said: “Etihad Holidays has enjoyed a phenomenally successful 2008 and this growth is set to continue as we expand the holiday shops across the region and continue our drive to become the leading premium holiday operator in the Middle East.”

Etihad Holidays has also made a considerable investment in state-of-the-art IT systems to support the company’s expansion and recently implemented the “Ocean” holiday booking system, a product from the renowned ISO Travel Solution group based in Germany.

“Ocean” allows sales operators to create all-inclusive holiday packages for customers covering all aspects of the holiday including accommodation, ground services and flights, provides instant confirmation of products and services and convenient e-documentation for customers.

In addition to simplifying and automating the sales and customer process, the new “Ocean” system also provides a portable solution allowing Etihad Holidays sales to be made at trade exhibitions, events, corporate offices and even in customers homes.

The implementation of “Ocean” also coincides with the re-launch of the Etihad Holidays website, www.etihadholidays.com, which has been designed to offer a multitude of user friendly features such as location maps, tips on choosing a holiday through innovative search tools as well as the latest special offers.

Another major breakthrough for Etihad Holidays in 2008 was the launch of the new-look summer brochure. Designed to be a comprehensive holiday and destination guide, the new brochure includes country-by-country overviews, a “must see and do” section for each destination, car rental and insurance options and greater detail on accommodation.

The brochure also features holidays to 35 destinations in 17 countries with more than 210 hotels to choose from and accompanies the popular “spot special” and “gottogo” sales campaigns which have become a central part in Etihad Holidays’ sales strategy.

The various “gottogo” sales promotions operate throughout the year and offer UAE-based customers great value holiday packages to Etihad destinations in the Far East, Europe, South Africa and North America.

Mr Gauci said: “The gottogo programmes, which are designed for anyone looking for a short break, are a central part of the Etihad Holidays sales strategy and compliments our other sales campaigns as well as the summer 2008 brochure.”

Information from the new brochure and other sales campaigns is also available at the re-launched Etihad Holidays website.

Mr Gauci added: “Etihad Holidays is constantly looking to make researching, booking and travelling on holiday a much more pleasurable and convenient experience. Whether it is the inspirational images and guides in the new brochure, our premium quality holiday packages or the relaxed and personable atmosphere in our holiday shops, we hope to provide everything that people need to plan, book and travel on their dream holiday.”