Trade sales slump hits Superbreak
Superbreak hotel bookings via travel agents fell 10% last year, parent Holidaybreak announced in an interim management statement today.
It blamed "the ongoing difficult consumer environment" for the decline in bookings but admitted the loss of Superreak's airport hotel contracts with large retail travel agents continued to adversely affect its performance.
Excluding these airport hotel contracts, the underlying trend shows sales intake currently at 8% below last year.
Holidaybreak, which announced a takeover by Cox & Kings last month, saw sales drop across other divisions for the period between March 31 and August 13.
Sales in its camping division were 2% below the same period last year and adventure sales were 3% down.
Meininger, the German school accommodation business in which Holidaybreak took a 50% stake in December 2010, was 22% ahead of the same period last year.
Group chief executive Martin Davies said: “We continue to deliver a satisfying performance despite the tough economic environment. Particularly pleasing is the late demand for bookings at our Camping Division.
"We therefore remain confident of performing in line with management’s expectations for the year ending 30 September 2011.
"Trading for 2011/12 is strong with our education businesses currently 61% booked with PGL UK outdoor education centres 84% booked. Overall, Education is showing revenue growth of 6% year on year.”
By Linsey McNeill
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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