Dynamic packaging boosts lastminute.com
Lastminute.com has claimed “substantial growth” in consumers packaging their own holidays. The company saw sales of dynamic packages amount to almost £9 million or 6.1% of total sales in the three months ending December 31, 2003. Dynamic packaging sales in the UK in January were up to £4 million against £1.3 million in the same month last year, according to the company. The figures were announced as lastminute.com named its new web-based trade brand for dynamic packaging, holidayandmore.com. Holidayandmore.com will be launched in the summer offering a range of travel components together with a range of “lifestyle” products the company claims have never been available before through the trade. The lastminute.com group saw first quarter pre-tax losses rise to £18.3 million from £11.3 million year on year despite the total number of items sold increasing by almost 72%. The losses were blamed on additional depreciation and additional goodwill amortisation relating to acquired businesses. Lastminute.com acquired Med Hotels in the quarter for £16.1 million and took over First Option Hotel Reservations for £12.1 million in January. Travel is the largest growth area in items sold, rising by almost 97% year-on-year. Lastminute.com said there had been a “slight shift” in bookings away from short breaks towards more long haul destinations during the quarter. Looking forward, the company predicted that margins would grow later in the year but admitted that “we do remain vulnerable in all our markets to acts of terrorism”.
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