A LOCAL discount card has proved a big hit with islanders. Tony Gover said that the Govercard had seen huge demand from people – although he declined to say how many had been sold – and also from businesses wanting to be included on it.

‘There will be hundreds more suppliers coming on to the Govercard with discounts over the year. They don’t want to miss the opportunity,’ he said.

The card, which was launched last month, is now moving into its second phase by extending across the Channel Islands.

The scheme will soon encompass various businesses in Jersey – starting in the island within weeks – and Alderney and Sark where Stocks Hotel is already included.

It will also extend to Brittany with three hotels in St Malo and others in Dinard.

Some 60 outlets in Guernsey are already on the scheme and display the Govercard symbol.

The card comes in three forms: standard and corporate, which both cost £50 for one year, and guest, which is £10 for 14 days.

Mr Gover said that the next phase would also mean islanders being able to buy the card in instalments – £5 a month for one year.

He said that it was real value and could save a four-figure sum over the course of a year.

Discounts are available at local shops and attractions from The Body Shop to the Strawberry Farm, as well as local restaurants – some of which are part of the Gover group – and also pubs.

‘It’s the first discount card that our advisers and I have heard of that gives a discount in pubs,’ said Mr Gover.

Savings are also available at hotels in England, on petrol, Condor Ferries and travel offers, such as wine-tasting tours in France, football and shopping trips.

The card will also cover Mr Gover’s new ventures such as the Indian restaurants and takeaways above the Wayside Cheer, as well as Gover’s Restaurant in Victoria Road.

Mr Gover developed the idea from his experiences as chairman of one of the largest jewellers’ chains in England which had a loyalty discount card.

Adverts have appeared in the Guernsey Press, on the radio and even on a lorry outside the Vazon Bay Hotel, one of Mr Gover’s businesses.

Some 50,000 leaflets about the card have been distributed around the island, including with information packs from Premier Holidays.

‘They are the major tour operator to Guernsey and have 75,000 customers,’ said Mr Gover.

‘The card’s first stop is in Guernsey, then the rest of the Channel Islands before it embarks anywhere else in the world.

‘But wherever the card goes, it will always have its head office and be produced in Guernsey,’ he said.