Insight Report signals travel demand Ian Taylor


Exclusive research for the 2025 Travel Weekly Insight Report suggests the strongest intention to take an overseas holiday among UK consumers since the survey began. The research in early January


found three out of five adults (59%) likely to book a holiday abroad this year, up nine percentage points on a year ago in what proved to be a record summer for departures. The proportion ‘very likely’ to


take an overseas holiday was up seven percentage points year on year at 36%. Just over half those intending to travel (53%) expect to spend more on their holiday this year than last, although a similar proportion (54%) expressed more concern about


holiday costs this year than previously. A record 59% said they intend to


book all-inclusive accommodation, up two percentage points year on year and nine points up on 2019. All-inclusive demand appears especially strong among parents with children, with three out of four (77%) planning to book this accommodation. The research also found a seven-point increase year on year to 39% in those planning an overseas beach holiday. However, there was strong


evidence of concerns about the cost of holidays. Half (49%) cited price as the main factor when choosing a holiday, up seven percentage points on the last year. Almost two-thirds (64%) of those intending to take an overseas holiday said they would


Recruitment experts say sector ‘steady’ despite headwinds


Andrew McQuarrie


The travel industry appears more confident than other sectors in relation to recruitment activity, as companies prepare for costs to rise from April. A survey by the Chartered


Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) of 2,000 firms across the economy suggested that just over a third are planning to reduce their headcount through redundancies or by recruiting fewer staff. But travel recruitment specialists


told Travel Weekly they had not encountered hiring freezes, despite


4 20 FEBRUARY 2025


the upcoming rises in employers’ national insurance contributions and the minimum wage, with reports pointing to a job market that is either “steady” or performing well. “We’re busier than ever at the


moment due to a positive start to the year for the travel sector,” said MBM Travel Executives director Lisa Ntim. Barbara Kolosinska, managing


director of C&M Travel Recruitment, described the job market as “steady”. “It could be better, but it could


be a lot worse. Let’s hope that after April 5 and the end of the financial year, things will improve,” she said. She described many businesses


as taking a “cautious” approach but encouraged firms to start hiring now if they have the resources to do so, arguing that competition for candidates could ramp up after April 5. Gail Kenny Executive


Recruitment director Laura Davis also said there had been a “steady flow” of new roles being advertised this year, as businesses focused on trading during peaks. Red Planet Travel Recruitment


managing director GP Singh-Marwa described the job market as “healthy”, adding that strong demand for travel was fuelling high demand for staff.


“Companies are busy with


bookings, and you need staff to make those bookings,” he said. The upcoming hikes in


employers’ costs would fail to make a significant dent in recruitment activity, he predicted. “It may affect the very small


companies, but I think the mid-sized and bigger companies will adjust to the cost within their sales,” he said. The CIPD survey suggested


that 42% of companies are planning to raise prices, while a quarter said they are cancelling or scaling down plans for investing in or expanding their business.


travelweekly.co.uk


or holidays this year than last, including 71% of those aged 25-44 who are the most likely to travel and 69% of parents with children. Two out of five (40%) said they


plan six nights or less for their main overseas holiday, as did half (51%) of parents, while 58% of parents and 46% of those intending to travel said they would book fewer holidays and short breaks this year than last. The research by Service Science


The T ravel Weekly Insight Report,


produced in partnership with Deloitte, is available at travelweeklyinsight.co.uk


travel outside peak season, including 63% of parents with children. Three out of five (58%) said they would seek cheaper flights


and Kantar was conducted on January 3-5 among 1,281 UK adults. Service Science associate


director Tom Costley hailed the “positive outlook” for the outbound sector, citing “significant increases” in intentions to travel that “exceed pre-Covid levels”, despite evidence of financial concerns.


PICTURE: Shutterstock/earth phakphum


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