Celebrities cause a surge in flight bookings
British Airways has seen a surge in Caribbean bookings by celebrity-inspired holidaymakers looking at photos online.
The airline has noticed a 130% rise in holidays to Barbados and St Lucia after many celebrities posted their holiday snaps on social media sites.
Barbados welcomed Simon Cowell, Coleen Rooney, Olly Murs and native Rihanna while St Lucia, already a favourite with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, was the choice for Gwyneth Paltrow who posted pictures of her family enjoying a blissful beach break.
The airline has also seen a rise in bookings to Hawaii, up by 100% in the past year.
Katy Perry and John Mayer, Steven Tyler, Jude Law and even the President of the United States, all vacationed on the islands during the recent holidays.
Claire Bentley, British Airways Holidays managing director, said: "The start of the year is always the busiest time for bookings – people are back at work and need something to look forward to.
"The wet weather over Christmas, combined with lots of enticing pictures of celebrities on holiday has clearly influenced the rise we’re seeing in beach holidays."
Other top destinations for stars included Dubai, enjoyed by Rita Ora , Denise van Outen and Nell McAndrew, and Australia – popular with Leonardo DiCpario, Mariah Carey and fellow Aussies Kylie Minogue and Nicole Kidman returning for New Year celebrations.
And the ‘Spanish Caribbean’ attracting Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof and Nick Grimshaw who partied in Puerto Rico together, while couples Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux , Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, and Jessica Alba and Cash Warren enjoyed romantic breaks to Mexico.
Diane
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