Hoseasons hails best ever sales day as staycations given a boost
Hoseasons and cottages.com enjoyed their best ever online sales day yesterday after the Prime Minister gave the go ahead for domestic holidays to restart from July 4.
Hoseasons took one booking every 11 seconds in the hours after Boris Johnson’s announcement at midday.
Year-on year sales for the day were up 270% for Hoseasons, while sister company cottages.com reported a 455% increase.
Travel agents showed a 236% increase in Hoseasons holiday sales compared to the same day last year and the best trading day of 2020. Hoseasons suspended sales through agents in April, but resumed at the end of May.
"We were expecting greater levels of interest, but the surge in demand was still surprising and we certainly hadn’t expected a record day," said chief commercial officer of parent company Awaze UK Simon Altham.
"Over the last few weeks we’ve seen volumes of enquires and bookings increase on a daily basis, as people begin to become more confident about booking a UK holiday. Government confirmation seems to have just given people an extra level of certainty.
"All the evidence suggests that holidays remain a priority for most people, and this year more than ever the chance to get away is something customers are very much looking forward to. July and August are likely to be very busy as a result, but we’re also expecting greater than usual levels of demand for September and October too as the season extends."
Meanwhile Bridge Leisure has confirmed it will reopen its nine UK holiday parks next month. Trevella in Newquay, Seaview near Polperrro, Hengar Manor in Bodmin, Hedley Wood near Bude, Ashbourne Heights in Derbyshire, Sand le Mere near Hull and Bowland Fell in the Yorksire Dales will all welcome their first holidaymakers on July 10.
The two parks in Scotland, Silver Sands and Turnberry hope to reopen on July 17.
Initially the parks won’t be able to open their shared touring facilities as they are still considered too high risk. Only those with their own toilet and wash facilities will be able to book touring pitches on the parks until the situation is reviewed.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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