More evidence of late booking surge
More travel companies are reporting a rise in late bookings for this summer.
The claims come after Thomas Cook said in its latest trading statement that there has been a marked increase in late bookings for summer 2014.
Domestic self-catering holiday firm Hoseasons said bookings made and holidays taken in the week starting July 21 rose by 30% on 2012 and 20% on 2013.
Meanwhile, homeworking group Travel Counsellors said its bookings in July for summer departures were up 8% on the previous year.
The figures suggest a recent surge following a report by analyst GtK, which reported a 7% year-on-year fall in sales for the travel market as a whole in June.
"Despite reports of a slow summer lates market, we have seen a strong booking trend over the summer months, and additionally our future bookings for winter 2014 are also performing well, up 11% on last year," said Travel Counsellors sales director Malcolm Hingley.
The group believes the favourable exchange rate due to the weak Euro has increased the appeal of overseas holidays in Europe for late bookers.
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.
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