Bookings rise for summer peak as confidence grows


Juliet Dennis


Booking volumes for the peak summer holiday period are starting to pick up as destinations prepare to welcome back British tourists. Trade sales have steadily increased


since the prime minister’s February 22 roadmap announcement, while the Canary Islands, Greece and Cyprus are among destinations to have set out plans to reopen this summer. Agents and operators reported the start of a shift to peak summer sales,


although the majority of bookings are still for later in the year or 2022. Advantage Travel Partnership


said 21% of members’ bookings from March 1-7 were for June- August departures, with Spain, Greece and Turkey the most popular destinations. Of last week’s bookings, 49% were for 2022-23 departures. Leisure director Kelly Cookes


said: “We are seeing volumes for the summer starting to increase.” She attributed increased demand to “announcements from various


destinations wanting to welcome British travellers back this summer, combined with the UK’s vaccination rollout and the plan for lockdown restrictions to ease”. Miniples said demand was mainly


for August onwards. Polka Dot Travel director Mark


Johnson said clients were “desperate to get away” and “more optimistic”, although Premier Travel director Paul Waters stressed holidaymakers would not book for earlier than August until they knew “how the government will unlock overseas travel”. Designer Travel managing director


Amanda Matthews reported a shift in sales to July and August from later this year and 2022. She said: “We think now kids are back in school, the family market will start booking for this summer.” Olympic Holidays said agents had


been booking late May and June but reported “much stronger demand from July onwards”. But Spear Travels chairman Peter


We think now kids


are back in school, the family market will start booking for this summer


Cookson warned summer holidays could be “in short supply and prices high” because of bookings held over from last year and a restricted number of destinations on sale. Many remained cautious about


promoting early summer departures. Spires Travel manager Paul


Knapper was “hesitant” to take bookings for travel in the next three to four months, while Protected Trust Services said most members were “erring on the side of caution for May”. Kuoni said it was not pushing


early summer sales, while Premier Holidays said consumer confidence closer to May 17 focused on places such as the Isles of Scilly and Jersey.


River lines report strong demand


Harry Kemble and Samantha Mayling


River cruise lines report solid demand for when sailings resume but two leading lines have different ideas on when it may be safe to welcome guests again. Uniworld president and chief


executive Ellen Bettridge told a Clia virtual River Cruise Showcase that the line hopes to resume operations in May, initially on the Douro, Rhine, Danube and Po rivers. She said bookings for the second


half of 2021 were “really filling up” and that a second ship had been drafted in to sail Christmas market itineraries this year to meet demand. For 2022, Bettridge said bookings


were “150% to 160% up and absolutely on fire”. Of these, she said


6 11 MARCH 2021


Uniworld’s River Queen


AmaWaterways’ main market and Schreiner believes “they will travel as soon as they are allowed”. He added: “If our ships are only 20%-25% occupied, we can cruise”. Agents watching the Clia forum


were urged to pursue river cruise bookings in the wake of a Mail Metro Media survey which found 74% of respondents had yet to confirm 2021 holiday plans but were interested in booking. Travel account manager Sam


89% were new bookings, while 11% were being carried over from 2021. But the co-founder of


AmaWaterways was more cautious. Rudi Schreiner told the forum he


expects his line to restart in August, although his marketing team is promoting cruises in June and July.


The line has cancelled April


departures and is soon to review sailings scheduled for May. Schreiner said he had to be “pessimistic” to reduce risk for the business, adding: “It all depends on governments, and flight and quarantine restrictions.” Americans and Canadians are


Conway said: “Now is the time to influence and instil that confidence to ensure they book with your company.” He said the data suggested


consumers want to “stick to what they know in 2021”, with city breaks and all-inclusive holidays popular – but pointed out river cruises visit cities and are typically all-inclusive.


travelweekly.co.uk


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