Trade reports good start to peak-booking period

Tuesday, 29 Dec, 2015 0

Operators have kicked off their early booking campaigns as new research says one in five people will have booked their 2016 holiday by the end of 2015.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said the company’s £50 low deposit offer has been ‘really well received by our retail staff’.

"Early signs are that our customers have really appreciated – and are taking advantage of – our industry-leading low deposit offer," he said.

Princess Cruises has matched Thomas Cook’s £50 low deposit offer, as part of the cruiseline’s 50^th anniversary.

Princess Cruises UK vice president Tony Roberts said the low deposit meant "guests can book a cruise with Princess Cruises without breaking the bank".

The deposits are valid on bookings made in January and February, for 2016 cruises.

Kuoni has reported a ‘positive’ start, with web traffic up year-on-year and strong bookings on Sunday.

A Kuoni spokesperson said: "It’s early days, but indications so far are positive.

"Web traffic is up year-on-year and we had a great response when our ad first screened on Boxing Day, which gives us a really strong indication that demand is there.

"Sunday has been our strongest day so far since the sale kicked off and destinations in demand are the Maldives, Thailand, Cuba, Sri Lanka, USA and Italy.

"Yesterday was obviously a Bank Holiday in lieu of Boxing Day, so year-on-year sales aren’t really comparable."

Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance says over 34 million people are planning an overseas holiday during 2016 and over 38 million are planning a UK break, with 58% of the population intending to do both.

On average, those planning on booking a holiday in 2016 will spend £846 per person, before add-ons and spending money.

There will be 8.7 million early bookers – one in five of the population – who will have booked their main holiday by the end of the year.

This includes 12% who had already booked by the end of October and a further 9% who plan to book by the end of 2015.

Another one in eight (12%) intends to book during January 2016.

Lisa

Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.