Juliet Dennis and Samantha Mayling


Roadmap sparks bookings surge... 1,000%


The trade reported an immediate sales spike for overseas holidays this summer following news travel could resume as early as May 17. Agents, operators and airlines


were “inundated” with calls as a result of increased consumer confidence following the prime minister’s roadmap announcement on Monday. Tui reported bookings up 500%


on the previous day with “huge demand” for Greece, Spain and Turkey from July onwards. Jet2holidays also saw a “dramatic”


spike as bookings increased by 1,000% in the first 24 hours after the announcement, with Spain, Portugal,


Greece, Cyprus and Turkey popular. Chief executive Steve Heapy reported “enormous pent-up demand”. EasyJet added routes and


destinations after reporting a 337% and 630% week-on-week surge in summer bookings for flights and holidays respectively. Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and


Crete were its top destinations and August its most-popular month. Chief executive Johan Lundgren


said the roadmap “provided a much- needed boost in confidence”. Agents welcomed the upturn


in enquiries but faced scores of rebookings as operators cancelled departures before May 17 – and stressed the need for flexible booking options.


...and a ‘scramble’ for UK breaks but another Easter lost


Juliet Dennis and Samantha Mayling


Travel agents have been in a “scramble” to book domestic holidays in the wake of the government’s roadmap update. Self-catering accommodation


could reopen from April 12 and hospitality from May 17, if infection rates allow. UK operators immediately


reported a sales boom, though some lamented that holidays would not be permitted at Easter. Hoseasons parent Awaze UK


recorded one booking every second, 6 25 FEBRUARY 2021


selling more than 10,000 UK breaks in the hours after the PM’s statement on Monday, while Leger Shearings Group reported it was on track for a record sales day on Tuesday. Westoe Travel director Graeme


Brett said enquiries for UK coach and rail breaks came in as the news broke. “People were ringing up while


Boris Johnson was speaking,” he said. “Lots of people want [domestic]


breaks in April and May. Coach operators like National Holidays and Alfa have confirmed most tours will start from May 17. They are filling up quickly; hopefully they will add more dates.”


Jet2holidays’ claimed growth in sales in 24hrs after PM’s update


Paul Hardwick, head of


commercial at Fred Olsen Travel, said: “Enquiries and bookings for summer have picked up, mainly for July onwards. We’ve also got a few for the end of May as customers want to get something booked for the Whitsun week, potentially before prices increase after the travel update on April 12.” Steve Witt, co-founder of


lot of changes to bookings this year,” he added. Haslemere Travel owner Gemma


Antrobus said she was “run off my feet” by the flood of enquiries. Marion Owen Travel owner


Marion Owen said bookings were “coming out of my ears”, adding: “We want it to be busy, just please let these bookings go ahead.” Bailey’s Travel owner Chris Bailey


said: “Enquiry levels have picked up but so have the decisions to move and cancel up to May 17, so it’s swings and roundabouts.”


homeworking group Not Just Travel, reported a surge in enquiries from clients who wanted to book “before everywhere is full”. “We hope there won’t have to be a


Hot tub at a Hoseasons property


Travel Village Group chief


executive Phil Nuttall said the news was a “double-edged sword” because it led to a “scramble” to rebook clients due to travel in April and May while also taking new bookings. He said: “We’ve brought staff


off furlough as we have to cancel holidays and rebook clients while everyone is piling in to book this summer, so prices are going up. We have to work hard and smartly.” Domestic operators said the


roadmap brought much-needed clarity. Leger Shearings Group chief executive Liam Race expected


bookings to “surge further” after the initial spike. He said the firm was “very relieved” its 14 Shearings tours departing on May 17 were set to go ahead and expects the most popular destinations to sell out “very quickly”. Awaze UK group chief commercial


officer Simon Altham said: “Last year, following similar announcements we saw bookings peak at one every 11 seconds, but this time has comfortably broken that record.” The Association of Leading


Visitor Attractions called for an additional bank holiday in September to compensate for the “significant” loss of Easter.


travelweekly.co.uk


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