CRAWLEY, England, August 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
It seems that British athletes will be going from the podium to
the party, as Las Vegas has been
revealed as the number one holiday destination for athletes
following the London 2012 Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
Official airline partner British Airways asked a number of Team
GB and ParalympicsGB athletes about their holiday plans post
September. Far from having a relaxing break, the results showed
that many of the athletes will be seeking sun and fun on Las Vegas
holidays, following weeks and months of gruelling schedules.
Nearly a third of athletes (28 per cent) are planning a trip to
America, with Las Vegas and
Orlando holidays among the top choices. In second place is
Spain, with 13 per cent of
athletes planning a break to the mainland and its islands, with
Ibiza topping the list.
One of the many athletes planning a trip to Las Vegas is triathlete Helen Jenkins, who said: "My husband and I Iove
Vegas and cannot wait to return. The weather is always great, and
there's always something going on. I'm not surprised it's popular
with the athletes as we've all trained so hard for so long - it
provides the perfect antidote to get away from it all."
In joint third place are Australia, Greece and Thailand, proving to be popular destinations
due to the sunshine, beaches, sports activities, great food and
culture they offer.
Some of the more unusual destinations included were Lithuania, Cuba and Scotland. The findings also revealed that
there's no rest for some athletes, with four per cent planning an
active ski or snowboarding holiday.
The top destinations chosen by Team GB and ParalympicsGB
athletes included America, Spain,
Greece, Thailand, Australia, France, as well as holidays in the
Maldives.
British Airways provides a wide range of holiday including short
breaks in Barcelona, seven night
holidays in Barbados and three
night breaks in Las Vegas.
Richard Tams, British Airways
Head of Sales and marketing for UK and Ireland, said: "We've seen a slight increase
in late summer bookings this year, due to many holidaymakers
staying at home to support our athletes during the London 2012 Games. The good news is that there
are still lots of late bargains to be had.
"There are some great deals to Spain and Greece for those looking for a quick city
break, to make it back in time for the Paralympic Games. For
holidaymakers looking to go further a field, then Mexico is great this time of year, although
the party atmosphere in Jamaica
following their Olympic success may well be more appealing to those
looking for a lively time."
Throughout the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games, British Airways is encouraging the
nation to get behind the athletes and offer their support, using
the hashtag #HomeAdvantage on Twitter.
British Airways is proud airline partner of Team GB and
ParalympicsGB.
About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide
destinations, including holidays in Rome and flights to London.
Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL
protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are
offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security
of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly
seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value
for money and quality of the service provided.
Press Contact:
Claire Ioannou
Astral Towers
Crawley
West Sussex
RH11 8PJ
+44(0)1293-722513
http://www.ba.com