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When is a package a package?

‘Preferences by Pan Pacific‘ is a new ‘package’ from the Singapore-based hotel company. But is it truly a package? With Preferences by Pan Pacific, guests get to design their own experience. Valid until 1st January 2009, guests have a choice of accommodation, a guaranteed late check-out and a choice of one of the following preferences: daily complimentary breakfast for two; complimentary high speed Internet access; dining credit of $25.00 per night; exclusive hotel or resort preference; or 50% savings on second booked room.   Is it me or is this not really a package when you’re choosing what you want yourself?

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.

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3 Comments

  1. It seems like they are trying to imitate what Gramercy Park Hotel, or any other hotel in matter that Ian Shrager(?) is involved in. I have to completely agree with you that its just not a package.

  2. I agree with you, Paul. There is also an overuse of the word “experience”. I can’t see how anyone is creating an experience out of the options you outlined in your post. Luxury today is about helping people create unique stories. As Brian pointed out, this story is commonplace. Luxury packages need to help guests tell great stories of their experience. There is a lot of great packaging going on in the luxury market today and thank you for helping us tell our unique stories.

    Best regards,

    Doug

  3. I agree too. It sounds more like a tailor-made holiday than a straightforward package. On most package deals you get herded like sheep through the, ‘It’s Monday so you must do xyz’ kind of thing.

    Mind you, these Pic-n-Mix type of holiday offerings seem to be becoming more common. We were interested in a holiday to Beijing and to the Great Wall, and were offered holidays tailored to our own needs/wants.

    The trouble was, though, that the travel agency rep. could not get it into her head that we didn’t want to visit jewellery factories. She kept scheduling in such visits for us – even after dinner! – despite us saying we didn’t want them on our itinerary at all. We were getting nowhere with this plan so in the end we declined to book.

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