Tui Group today reported strong demand for summer mainstream holidays and a “significant” rise in online bookings.
Online booking levels for summer 2015 are up 12% year-on-year with 46% of the group’s mainstream programme sold – in line with this time last year.
Unique holidays account for almost three quarters of all mainstream bookings for the coming summer, up by three percentage points.
Overall summer bookings are up by 1% with average selling prices also up by 1%.
“Based on current trading, we remain confident of delivering full year underlying operating profit growth of 10% to 15%'” the Thomson and First Choice parent company said in a trading update this morning.
Tui Group chief executives Friedrich Joussen and Peter Long said: “Winter 2014/15 is closing out as expected, with our mainstream programme almost fully sold and higher average selling prices in most source markets.
“We are pleased with summer 2015 trading, with continued strong demand for our unique holidays and a significant increase in online bookings.
Hotels & resorts are performing well and cruise sales continue to grow, with the launch of Mein Schiff 4 this June and improved fleet performance by Hapag-Lloyd.
“Accommodation Wholesaler is also delivering another year of double-digit TTV growth.
“We are continuing to implement our strategy post-merger, and will articulate this in further detail at our capital markets update on 13 May 13.
“We are on track to deliver a first half result ahead of last year on a like-for-like basis, and remain confident of delivering full year underlying operating profit growth of 10% to 15%.”
Europe’s largest travel group saw winter 2014/15 closing out “as expected,” with higher average selling prices in most source markets, up 1% overall.