VIRGIN ATLANTIC LAUNCHES ‘SANDSCAPES’ TO TRANSPORT HOLIDAY DAYDREAMERS
Brits spend 1 hour and 41 minutes a week daydreaming about holidays
Virgin Atlantic has launched Sandscapes – an audio series of soothing stories and gentle sounds from the beach to inspire Brits to book their next tropical escape.
Voiced by broadcaster Jo Whiley, the sound series delivers a dose of escapism, relaxation and calm.
Available on the Virgin Atlantic Spotify channel, Sandscapes feature Virgin Atlantic’s two recently launched routes to the Maldives and Turks & Caicos as well as Barbados.
Sandscapes launches as research reveals the average person spends 3 days and 15 hours of the year planning and thinking about their next getaway.
35% of Brits admit they are missing the sunshine and dreaming of their next holiday.
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Sandscapes available on Virgin Atlantic Spotify
Virgin Atlantic has today launched Sandscapes, a series of audio stories voiced by broadcaster Jo Whiley that help transport holiday obsessed Brits to warmer climes.
Each episode in the three-part sound series has been curated to showcase the wonders of Virgin Atlantic destinations including new routes to the Maldives and Turks & Caicos as well as Barbados. Steel drums and the clink of ice in a rum punch carry listeners to Barbados; exotic jungle sounds to Turks & Caicos; and gently lapping waves take listeners to the respite of a Maldives lagoon villa.
Inspired by the sounds, scenes, and landscapes of some of the world’s most picturesque locations, and available for free through Virgin Atlantic’s Spotify, each Sandscape serves a different purpose, whether it’s getting energised on a dark January morning, finding a moment of focus in the day, or catching some much-needed calm.
New research has revealed that Brits are spending one hour and 41 minutes a week dreaming of holidays, adding up to a huge 3 days and 15 hours days a year. And 36% admit that January is the peak time that their minds wander – with one in four (25%) thinking about their next getaway every 30 minutes.
35% admit to missing the sunshine, with a further 15% feeling the winter blues. One in five (21%) said they are dreaming of their next holiday and keen to have something booked as soon as possible.
When thinking about their holidays, 58% of Brits are filled with a sense of happiness, 48% excitement, and 34% said they view it as escapism. Half (49%) revealed that since Covid they are more likely to plan holidays - and spend more time doing so (45%).
In fact, 52% of holidaymakers admitted they plan every detail of their trip, but that picking the destination is the best bit (43%), and often takes the most time and research (57%).
Jo Whiley commented: “My days are so hectic, trying to juggle both home and work that I often find myself daydreaming about my next adventure. Holidays are the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge my batteries so I can deal with all that life throws at me. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed lending my voice to help inspire Brits looking to book their next tropical beach break with this wander-lust audio series that offers a quick escape to some of Virgin Atlantic’s most exotic beach destinations.”
Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic commented: “We know our customers long for a sunny beach destination, particularly at this time of year. Our Sandscapes series offers bite sized experiences of Barbados, Turks & Caicos, and the Maldives to inspire our customers to book their next adventure.”
The Virgin Atlantic sale ends on 31st January with great fares including £478 return to Barbados, £508 return to St Lucia and £585 to the Bahamas. New services to the Maldives launch on 22nd October with return Economy fares starting from £746 and Turks & Caicos launch on 4th November with fares starting from £552.
To find out more about Virgin Atlantic’s Sandscapes and to listen, visit the Virgin Atlantic Spotify, or follow the airline on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
About Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the sixth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs over 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 29 destinations across four continents. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, announcing a new route to Tampa from November 2022, following the launch of flights to Austin in May 2022.
Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. On 3 February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic is also set to join the global airline alliance SkyTeam in 2023. Virgin Atlantic will become SkyTeam’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.
Sustainability remains central to the airline, which is committed to achieving net zero by 2050. To meet this goal, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos in October 2022. The A330-900neos are equipped with the most fuel-efficient engines and designed to be 11% more fuel and carbon efficient than the A330-300s that they replace and deliver a 50% reduction in airport noise contour. These investments reaffirm the airline’s dedication to flying one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies, resulting in the reduction of carbon emissions by 20%, increasing to 30% in 2027.
For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic.