OPERATORS have
been urged to hold their nerve on prices as a much-needed surge in bookings for
this summer followed England’s World Cup defeat.
Retailers saw
bookings pick up in the afternoon after England lost to Brazil, with further
sales hikes over the weekend of June 22 and 23. The rise was backed up by UK
network suppliers reporting increased viewdata usage.
X-tant witnessed a
33% increase in viewdata traffic after England’s departure from the tournament,
while Telewest said usage was 15% up the weekend after the defeat.
X-tant sales
director Gary Stimson said: “There’s still time for agents to turn in a great
performance this summer.”
Telewest head of
travel services Keith Webber added: “The figures indicate a genuine shift
post-World Cup as consumers flock to agents now they are not tied to the
football.”
Package holiday
website Holiday.co.uk has recorded a 28% increase in call-centre traffic since
England’s exit. Managing director Ed Whiting said: “Seaman might have wrecked
our lads’ chances but he’s certainly saved the industry’s bacon.”
Operators poised
to launch second-edition summer 2003 programmes over the next month said prices
remain high for this season. Sources suggest bookings are 10%-15% up.
But Thomas Cook
tour operations MD Manny Fontenla-Novoa warned: “It will be a case of who holds
their nerve the longest. All operators are keeping prices high but some
consumers will wait until they fall.”
TUI UK retail
managing director John McEwan maintained customers were buying full price,
brochured holidays. “People are not just looking for deals so margins are
healthy,” he said.
Cosmos managing
director Terry Williamson said more expensive, named accommodation breaks were
selling over cheaper deals. “Prices have hardened for this summer and for next
winter and summer,” he said.
First Choice
retail managing director John Donnelly said bookings were up 20% the day after
England’s defeat. “Bookings have gone wild,” he said.
Meanwhile, Airtours sales director Steve Barrass added: “The increase
was expected so it was not something that caught us on the hop.”