NEWS
Barrhead says 60% of sales this week are for summer but 20% for trips by April
Agents hail first week of peaks as sales soar on Sunshine Saturday
Juliet Dennis
Travel agents have hailed the first full week of January trading as unusually strong with record sales days, prompting predictions bookings could gain further momentum in the coming weeks. Large agency groups said the first
Saturday of the new year, billed ‘Sunshine Saturday’, beat previous January trading. Travel firms reported
bookings for couples and families, with late sales continuing alongside summer enquiries, and both traditional hotspots and cruises popular. Barrhead Travel recorded its
was a lates market for travel, but this year has seen a return of confidence to plan ahead. Customers want to lock in prices so they have certainty and to help with holiday budgeting.” Hays Travel said sales on Saturday
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were five times higher than on the corresponding day in 2022. Hays stores have opened on Sundays and its online contact centres have extended opening hours for the next six weeks to meet demand. The group’s most popular destination is Spain, with around one-third of all departures for the destination
in the next 12 weeks. Owner Dame Irene Hays said she
highest-ever sales day on Saturday. Summer bookings accounted for more than 60% of holidays Barrhead sold last week, but more than one in five new sales were for departures by April. All-inclusive holidays accounted for a quarter of bookings. President Jacqueline Dobson said: “Last year
travelweekly.co.uk
felt “optimistic” compared with last year when Omicron affected sales. “We are focusing on the quality of
our customer service, offering great value and the widest choice,” she said. Miles Morgan Travel had its best-
ever Saturday in 16 years of business, while Fred Olsen Travel reported its highest-ever Saturday turnover.
Fred Olsen Travel head of
commercial Paul Hardwick anticipated even stronger sales this coming weekend. “I’m hopeful the real ‘Sunshine Saturday’, will be this coming Saturday as I still feel the second week of the month is always the real start of peaks,” he said. The Travel House described the
week as its best ever. Head of retail Leanne Williams attributed high staff morale and returning clients for record-breaking sales. “We’ve listened to staff, negotiated with suppliers, increased incentives and did two salary hikes last year,” she said. “With kids in Wales going back to school, this week could be even better.” Love To Travel enjoyed its
strongest week for at least eight years. Owner Joanne Dooey said families were booking for the start of the Scottish summer holidays, at the end of June, and couples for February and March. About 25%-30% of sales were from new customers. “Some have not booked through
agents for years. They’ve seen us on social media, like the deals and want to be looked after,” she said. Swords Travel managing director
Mark Swords described the first week of 2023 as “unusually strong”, with sales 96% up on January 1-9 last year. “Normally, the first week is quiet
because families are settling down to school, but it’s been manic,” he said. Inspired Travel managing director
Kate Harris said: “I have 17 enquiries on the go – it’s back to the same level as pre-pandemic.” The Advantage Travel Partnership
said the first week had “surpassed all expectations”, ending 86% up on bookings and 94% up on revenue year on year. One-third of bookings are for travel in the next 12 weeks, higher than usual for this time of year. Some firms said the miserable
weather had stimulated bookings. Lisa Henning, managing director of Inspire Europe, said: “It is grey, it is gloomy. Booking a holiday now gives [consumers] that lift they need.”
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PICTURE: Shutterstock/Song_about_summer
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