Holidaybreak issues management statement
Diversifying its businesses has helped Holidaybreak remain strong in a difficult market, the European specialist holiday group said this week.
Issuing its interim management statement for October 1 to February 12, Holidaybreak said it would continue to look at acquisitions to expand its business.
“The diversity of Holidaybreak’s specialist businesses, strengthened since the creation of the Education Division, gives the group additional resilience in what may be a more difficult consumer environment,” said the statement.
“We continue to review potential acquisitions and organic investment proposals to expand the Group, so that we maximise the opportunities available to us.”
The group said trading in the current financial year was in line with expectations, with overall group sales up 6% ahead of last year.
Its Education Division, formed from the acquisitions of PGL and NST last year, now accounts for around 24% of pro forma group revenues.
Holidaybreak said this division was currently 78% booked for 2008 and 19% for 2009. Sales for the division are currently 10% above last year on a like-for-like basis.
Meanwhile, sales intake for Hotel Breaks is currently 8% above last year, with packaged business into London remaining strong.
Adventure Travel sales are 3% up, but events in Kenya and the Antarctic are expected to reduce full-year revenues by about £2 million.
Camping capacity has been reduced by 5% and sales to date are 1% up over last year. The division is currently over 67% booked for the whole season.
Holidaybreak said revenues from its European businesses have benefited from the strong euro, though this will be offset by the translation of euro costs.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive