Data finds spike in searches after ‘Shapps O’Clock’ corridor update
The Thursday ritual of travel corridor updates has become a trigger for consumers desperate to escape and book a quick break.
Data has shown a surge in holiday searches takes place immediately after the weekly announcements, with 9-10pm the busiest time.
The trend is becoming known as ‘Shapps O’Clock, according to Thomas Cook, which compiled the data.
Research found the Thursday evening traffic peak increases by 87% compared to the same 9-10pm slot during the rest of the working week.
Boris Johnson’s national address on Monday evening also triggered a flurry of searches, the recently-launched online retailer said.
The data also revealed holidaymakers’ online behaviour has changed significantly since Covid took hold.
Holiday searches usually rise significantly in the weekday evenings but now remain unchanged throughout the day.
The majority of Brits are looking to jet off in the next couple of weeks, Thomas Cook said.
Head of Commercial Product, Emma King said: ""People are clearly keeping an eye on the latest travel announcements, with over 21% of all weekly visitors searching for holidays on Thursdays.
"The 60-minute slot between 9-10pm is the single busiest period of the working week and this behavioural trend is now so consistent it’s becoming known as ‘Shapps O’Clock’."
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