MINI USA partners with Virgin Vacations to create MINI travel holiday
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - May 25, 2005...MINI USA has partnered with Virgin Vacations to create the MINI Motoring Holiday, a new travel program for MINI owners and enthusiasts. The new program will offer bookings for travel beginning June 20, 2005.

 

The program is designed specifically for those MINI enthusiasts who would like to create their own customized holiday to the UK. Most notably, travel includes unique 'MINI-esque' extras such as a tour of the MINI manufacturing plant in Oxford, England and the option to rent a MINI while on holiday.

 

There are individual packages to suit varying interests, budgets and travel schedules. Available packages include: the "Short Cut", with three nights in London, the "Long Cut", a six-night London stay and "The Scenic Route", offering three nights in London and three nights in Oxford. Each package offers the add-on option of a MINI rental car as well as additional sight-seeing and travel options that can be booked in advance.

The 3 or 6-Night London Stay and the 6-Night London/Oxford Stay:

 

Inclusions:
- Round-trip Economy air on Virgin Atlantic Airways
- Choice of stay at first-class, superior or deluxe hotel in London or Oxford
- Meet & Greet service upon arrival in London
- Round-trip standard class rail ticket to Oxford
- MINI plant tour
- Round-trip airport transfer
- Complimentary Virgin "Extras" including London City Guide, Carry-all bag and MINI Motoring Holiday kit
- Optional MINI Car Rental: Cooper S - and coming soon - Convertible S
- Links to additional activities

 

Pricing
- 3 night London: start from $759*
- 6 night London: start from $949*
- 6 night London/Oxford: start from $1,029*
- Rental car: rates from $125 per day**

 

*Prices based on double occupancy for travel 9/6 - 10/18 2005 from New York. Other travel dates and gateways available at applicable prices.
** Rental cars are based on number of days.
Please note: more detailed pricing and travel information is attached.

 

Also available are a number of unique activities that travelers can book which are ideally suited to the MINI enthusiast. Travelers get to choose from activities that include driving go-karts, racing MINIs on the track or even commanding a real tank. Tours are also available at the National Motor Museum and Heritage Motor Centre museum which feature historic Mini displays.

 

The partnership with Virgin Vacations and MINI USA to create a travel program is appropriate as both brands posses a unique and fun customer orientation. The MINI Motoring Holiday emphasizes the sense of adventure MINI owners and enthusiasts possess, while offering travel packages managed by Virgin Vacations, experts in travel to Great Britain and other European destinations.

 

"MINI is about individualization and discovering the road less traveled," said Marian Hawryluk, MINI Sales Process Manager, "Our partnership with Virgin Vacations is a natural fit as our program caters to those MINI enthusiasts who wish to experience a customized holiday package that offers a unique British flavor - yet with a MINI twist."

 

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 Roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 80 MINI passenger car dealers and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

 

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

 

MINI Motoring Holiday
Travel Package Fact Sheet:

 

3 or 6-Night London Stay Pricing*

 

Travel Dates Hotel Category 3-Nights 6-Nights

 

06/01 - 09/05/05

 

First-Class $1019 $1,209
Superior $1,269 $1,569
Deluxe $1,499 $2,169

 

09/06 - 10/31/05

 

First-Class $759 $949
Superior $1009 $1299
Deluxe $1,079 $1,599

 

- MINI car rental additional
- Pricing reflects travel from New York. Other gateways available at applicable pricing.

 

6-Night London/Oxford Package Pricing*

 

Travel Dates Hotel Category - London/Oxford 6-Nights

 

06/01 - 09/05/05

 

First-Class/First-Class $1,289
Superior/First-Class $1,729
Deluxe/First-Class $1,669

 

09/06 - 10/31/05

 

First-Class/First-Class $1,029
Superior/First-Class $1,469
Deluxe/Deluxe $1,699

 

- MINI car rental additional
- Pricing reflects travel from New York. Other gateways available at applicable pricing.

 

Hotel Selections

 

London

 

First-Class
Somerset Bayswater
K-West
Cumberland

 

Superior
City Inn Westminister
Deluxe
Trafalgar
St. Martin's Lane Hotel
Sanderson Hotel

 

Oxford

 

First-Class
Eastgate Hotel
The Oxford Hotel

 

Superior
Randolph Hotel
Deluxe
BearHotel in Woodstock

 

Travelers can book separately optional MINI-like activities such as:

 

- Zorbing Experience
- Go-Karting
- Blindfold driving
- MINI Maverick Racing
- Tank driving
- Italian Job - White knuckle high speed passenger ride with a professional instructor
- MINI Adventure - Session on a skid pan doing hand brake turning & power sliding
- Heritage Motor Museum in Gaydon - special collection of materials including Sir Alec Issigonis, including 1st production Morris MINI minor 1959, first MINI Cooper to win the Monte Carlo Rally 1964, and classic MINIs
- Goodwood Race Circuit - MINI Adventure
- National Motor Museum - Celebrating 45th anniversary of the MINI with special exhibition of cars including 1959 Austin Se7en

 

As of 5-25-05 - Packages, pricing and available activities subject to change without notice