First Choice is the first UK mainstream company offering all inclusive holiday packages

First Choice is now the first mainstream holiday company in the UK to offer all its hotel and resorts on an All Inclusive basis.

Top holiday company First Choice (part of TUI UK & Ireland) is setting up a major travel industry milestone by becoming the UK's first mainstream holiday company to offer 100% of its hotel and resorts on an All Inclusive basis – including flights, in-resort transfers, hotel accommodation, three meals a day and unlimited local drinks as standard.

Available to book online from next month,  May 2011, First Choice's new All Inclusive holidays offering has been created in direct response to the needs of today's consumers who want more control over their holiday spend, and the growing demand for All Inclusive holidays. In five years (2004-2009) the All Inclusive holiday market has grown by 32%, part of the 14.4 million package holidays estimated to be taken in 2010 according to latest research from Mintel.

Driven by the emerging trend for All Inclusive holidays, which now account for 65% of First Choice sales, budget conscious Brits are cottoning on to the fact that All Inclusive holidays are the way forward. New case study research from First Choice shows that a family of four can save a staggering £511 on an All Inclusive holiday versus a bed and breakfast only holiday for one week.

All Inclusive holidays can also be significantly less stressful - nearly two-thirds said they would relax more on an All Inclusive holiday, as everything has been paid for upfront and they don't need to worry about added extras on top of the total cost of the holiday. The research also showed that two-thirds of Brits on non-All Inclusive holidays tend to overspend, a quarter of them by over 20%.

Evening meals are the most likely area where people overspend (40%), followed by 36% who blow the budget on daytime meals and snacks, and 27% who put their over-spending down to long, leisurely evenings spent in the hotel bar.

Johan Lundgren, who is the managing director of TUI UK & Ireland, believes this will build further on the reputation of First Choice as one of the most innovative, yet accessible holiday companies in the UK. "This is a major milestone for the UK travel industry and an exciting and timely transformation for the First Choice brand. All Inclusive is becoming the holiday of choice for many British consumers, offering them great value for money, yet there is no mainstream holiday company currently offering a completely All Inclusive portfolio.

"First Choice will become the home of All Inclusive, offering the best of both worlds – a unique feeling of indulgence combined with practical control over their holiday spending – whatever their budget."

(EDITOR: Although perhaps meant to poke fun at the idea of all inclusive holidays, the hit ITV comedy series set in an all inclusive  hotel in Spain, Benidorm, the series has boosted interest in all inclusive holidays by the public.)