NEWS


Barrhead Travel’s Jacqueline Dobson credits the UK weather for ‘a flurry of last-minute bookings’


September sales beat targets as travel defies pre-Budget gloom


Juliet Dennis


The travel sector has defied reports of a UK-wide fall in consumer confidence. GfK’s Consumer Confidence


Barometer reported a drop in how consumers feel about their finances and the economy since the end of August amid Labour’s warning of a “painful” Budget on October 30. In contrast, travel agents and


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tour operators boasted of “fabulous” September sales – particularly of cruises – and insisted the change of government was not affecting customers’ booking habits. The sentiments were echoed


in Abta’s new Travel Confidence Index, which revealed Brits feel more confident about travelling overseas than this time last year, while a Tui Group trading update highlighted positive booking momentum, with “promising” sales for this winter. Jacqueline Dobson, president


travelweekly.co.uk


of Barrhead Travel, said: “Contrary to reports of slowing consumer spending in retail, travel continues to buck the trend this autumn with strong demand for leisure travel – particularly for lates. “The weather has certainly


contributed to a flurry of last-minute bookings.” Agents cited cruise and


family sales for 2025, as well as


lates, as particularly buoyant. Paul Hardwick, retail director


at Fred Olsen Travel, which this week opened its 22nd shop, said: “We saw our best week since peaks in week one of this month.” The Advantage Travel Partnership


member credited the consortium’s ‘cruise month’ campaign for “massively” driving sales. Nearly 60% of current sales are for ocean or river cruises, up nearly 10% on average, with most clients focused on 2025. Sandra Corkin, managing director


at Oasis Travel, agreed: “We’re having a fabulous September with sales ahead of projections. We had


our cruise show two weeks ago and that was extremely successful.” Homeworking firm Independent


Travel Experts reported a “significant” increase in demand for summer 2025 from families, making up 28% of bookings compared with about 18% this summer. The Travel Network Group said


revenues and passenger numbers were up year on year. Non-family bookings for September were up 18% year on year, while passenger numbers for short to mid-haul beach packages were up 25%, said commercial director Katharina Peck, who added: “September trading has been buoyant.” Polka Dot Travel described


trading as “in line with budget expectations” for the month. Director Mark Johnson insisted: “The change of government has not really made any impact one way or the other.” Advantage said members’


sales dipped slightly last week on the previous week but were still ahead of last year, with bookings


for this autumn and next summer performing well. But chief commercial officer Kelly


Cookes admitted: “For the last few weeks, members have been reporting conversion is more challenging than it was, with consumers shopping around for discounts before booking. There doesn’t appear to be a dip in consumer confidence but they do want value.” Smaller travel firms were similarly


upbeat. Thorne Travel cruise director John Ferguson said: “We’ve had more bookings this month than we had last year. We’re 90% to target this month already, so we’re going to hit the target we set for ourselves.” Travel Stop managing director


Bridget Keevil said: “It’s been busier than July and it’s all converting. The cancellation rate is a bit higher than usual, but mostly due to sickness, and nothing to worry about.” Zoe Clark, travel sales


manager at Swords Travel in Wimbledon, said business had been “non-stop”, adding: “It’s been a good month against last year.”


26 SEPTEMBER 2024 5


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Igor Link


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