Virgin to start ‘sensory holiday laboratory’
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Virgin Holidays is set to relaunch its stand at the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, taking a new paperless approach which it has claimed “could spell the beginning of the end of the traditional holiday brochure”, according to a story in the Times.
The firm, which is calling the venture a “sensory holiday laboratory” will enable its customers to use video screens, interactive technology and social media to create their own tailor made holiday. The ‘lab’ will also use aromas and lighting to suggest familiar holiday scents.
The Bluewater concession will be followed by an opening at Sheffield’s Meadowhall this week.
Commenting on the unveiling of the new shops, Virgin Holidays customer & sales director, Mark Anderson said: “Our ‘holiday laboratories’ have been designed with one purpose – to harness the latest technology and the increasingly powerful influence of social media to create something really different on the high street.
“As our retail network has grown, we’ve increasingly seen the need to put ‘play’ at the heart of the buying experience and these two stores are the logical conclusion of that process. Customers can come in here and be inspired by the surroundings, the video content and the imagery, discuss their options and preferences with our technicians and then literally experiment with the huge variety of holidays we sell, based on their specific needs, before taking it home in a convenient digital format, or have it emailed, for further consideration at their own convenience. And when they book, our Green Screen Area will give them a unique memento that they can keep or share as they count down to departure – which is far more exciting than a till receipt.
“For us, it’s always about innovation, and being the first to market with new ideas. We’re delighted with what we’ve created here and can’t wait to see the reaction of our customers.”
Several high street chains have unveiled new store concepts in the recent months, driven usually by technology. Visit our Facebook page to see our gallery of innovation.
