Our project

To permit direct contact between the clientele and lodgings, therefore eliminating the need for intermediaries.

The subsequent economic advantages should benefit both the client and their chosen lodgings.

Give incentives for the clientele to book well ahead of their intended arrival date.

The aim is to improve services whilst permitting all parties to benefit.

A commitment to a fair distribution of the economic advantages obtained will be the basis of our project.

Over the years many tour operators, travel agencies and more recently, web sites, have promoted various types of holiday including last minute low cost ‘packages’ which take advantage of the ‘unsold’ in various forms of lodgings from hotels, pensions, B+B’s and apartments etc. These last minute low cost packages can offer economic advantages and can be of great interest to all, although …not without risk.

It has had a great impact in the last few years with clients tending to organise their holidays closer to their departure date in the hope of saving by obtaining a ‘lastminute’ offer.

Another factor which has encouraged this type of holiday is the possibility for the client to enjoy more holidays but of a shorter period of time for each holiday.

However, there are still many people who like to organise their holidays in the traditional manner, prefering to remain for more than just a few days (normally at least a week) in a locality chosen in good time and probably one that has been visited before.

These people, which I greatly admire for the way in which they wish to get to know the locality they visit in every detail, normally search for tranquillity, comfortable surroundings and polite and honest service from the lodgings they choose.

It is a real pity that in recent years these traditional values, for various motives seem to be gradually deserting many tourist venues.

On the part of the hoteliers for example, there are many problems associated with the general running of the hotel due to various problems of which the ‘Lastminute’ trade, short breaks and the exorbitant commission taken by tour operators and travel agencies are factors.

Hoteliers difficulties

Problems in finding qualified personnel (such as secretaries willing to work just a few days per week).
Problems in ordering correct quantities of food stuffs etc (due to the many ‘Lastminute’ bookings).
Running costs which are constantly rising (not just for hoteliers).
Legal obligations which constantly require proprietors to modify their buildings for security/fire reasons. (and rightly so but these legal obligations are often confusing and over exaggerated)
Continual Health and safety regulation changes (H.A.C.C.P) (New equipment, daily controls, obligatory informatory courses etc).

All these factors have a resulting effect on the way clients are treated and damage the traditional clientele of which we have previously spoken.

These clients cannot take advantage of the ‘Lastminute’ offers and suffer from the negative effect this sought of trade has on the hotels and other structures dealing with tourists.

Difficulties for clients

The client doesn’t find fully qualified personnel that would treat them with the hospitality they have come to expect in the past.

Even though they booked well in advance they pay more than those who booked last of all (clients talk amongst themselves).

Often they don’t even obtain the best rooms as the tour operators visit the hotels and choose the rooms they wish to sell for their packages.

Of course hotels, by law, must offer the same services and furnishings in all rooms (the star system), but there are differences in what is offered, for example the view or the north or south facing rooms which the client obtains.

By booking via a travel agent the client will almost certainly pay a booking fee to him as well.

Well then ! …. If one plus one equals two, why not allow clients and hoteliers to have contact without any intermediaries?

Now there is INTERNET!

Why pay commission to third parties if by direct contact everyone can gain advantages?

Why not get the best rooms?

Why not book well ahead and not at the last minute therefore allowing the hotelier to organise his services better for you ?

Firstminute offers a modest service but one which can help hoteliers and other tourist structures to have direct contact with their clients and therefore allow all to benefit economically.

Advantages for the tourist:

· Better service.

· The best rooms.

· Advantageous rates.

· Better service in general.

Advantages for proprietors of hotels /lodgings:

More time to find the qualified personnel required.

Better contractual benefits and more accurate ordering for foodstuffs/etc for the various seasons.

No more high commission rates to pay.

Happy clients (most importantly).

Advance bookings also means receiving the required deposits to confirm the bookings.

Better organisation to get the best out of your business and being able to limit the inconveniences caused by the continual changes to the legal obligations for health and safety.

Conditions

On the part of the proprietors

Incentives and discounts for those booking early

On the part of the tourist

Booking early, which is not always easy as it goes against recent trends.

Ask for the advantageous conditions outlined in the Firstminute project from the hotel/lodgings chosen for your holiday.

Hotels/lodgings who wish to adhere to this project need only fill out the aplication form.

Insertion in the Firstminute web site is free of charge.

All hotels/lodgings etc adhering to the Firstminute project have read the above, and therefore agrees to guarantee that the incentives/discounts publicised will be offered to the client..

Firstminute cannot be held responsible for any eventual disagreements between client and hotel/lodgings or other (herein publicised) due to the incorrect application of this project..