Storm Goretti helps drive bookings spike in boost for peaks

Storm Goretti and freezing temperatures across the UK helped trigger a surge on foreign holiday enquiries and bookings, according to The Personal Travel Consultants in partnership with Blue Bay Travel.

 

Early indications suggest that the spell of bad weather may be directly influencing consumer behaviour.

 

The PTCs claimed a 20% year on year boost in sales on the January 3-11 period, with some consultants reporting their strongest trading days of the year so far over the weekend. 

 

The spike in bookings was felt nationally despite the severe weather being limited to parts of the country such as the Midlands, the southwest and Scotland.

 

PTCs group manager Abbie Heaton said: “Periods of extreme weather often trigger a desire to escape to the sun, but what we’re seeing this week is particularly pronounced.

 

“Customers have been stuck indoors, schools closed, commutes are disrupted and that’s when the convenience of having a personal travel expert available from home really comes into its own.”

 

Heaton added: “It may be a coincidence, but the timing strongly suggests that the storm has prompted people to start planning their next escape. And because our consultants work from home, they’re well placed to capitalise on consumer demand.

 

“Thanks to their flexible, home-based model, homeworkers have been able to operate without interruption throughout the storm, continuing to support customers even when travel conditions were challenging. 

 

“The flexibility of the homeworking model has also proved invaluable for families juggling weather‑related challenges. Many PTCs have continued trading seamlessly while managing school closures or childcare disruptions.

 

“While Sunshine Saturday traditionally falls on the first weekend of January, this year we’ve seen the pattern shift.

 

“We recorded a clear surge in enquiries and bookings from Wednesday through to Friday last week, which continued into the weekend. The timing suggests that the stormy weather didn’t dampen spirits it actually accelerated consumer demand to escape the weather.

 

“It’s a new kind of Sunshine Saturday moment, one driven not just by the calendar, but by mood and the need for something positive to look forward to. And because our consultants work from home across the UK, they’re perfectly placed to respond quickly when that demand spikes.”

 

PTCs anticipates that the uplift may continue in line with bad weather forecasts.

 

Meanwhile, Birmingham-based OTA Superescapes recorded some of its strongest trading days over the weekend, marking a clear turning point after a slower-than-usual start to the peak booking season.

 

Storm Goretti appears to have accelerated pent‑up demand. With families stuck indoors, schools closing and commutes disrupted, many consumers have turned their attention to securing a sunshine break, according to the company

 

Spokesperson Jason Waldron noted that while the storm stimulated sales, the traditional January peaks period no longer behaves in the predictable way it once did. 

 

Instead of a single concentrated surge, booking patterns are now more fragmented and increasingly tied to pay-day cycles rather than the historic early-January rush.

 

This shift has created a more staggered booking landscape, with multiple mini‑peaks throughout the month, a trend that is expected to continue.

 

Waldron said: “Storm Goretti has been the catalyst for many travellers who were already considering a winter getaway. 

 

“After a slower start to peaks, we’ve seen a clear surge in demand over the weekend particularly from regions most affected by the storm. 

 

“Since Covid, people take their seasonal breaks more seriously, and once the January routine settles, the desire to book something to look forward to becomes very strong. With fantastic deals across Spain, the Canaries and even the Caribbean, it’s no surprise that bookings have accelerated so quickly.”

 

The firm predicts that the lates market will remain strong, with consumers continuing to seek value‑driven breaks.