Agents are “buzzing” as they enjoy a rise in big bookings on the back of increased consumer confidence.
High-value sales are being reported after in-resort pre-departure tests and PCR tests on arrival in the UK for vaccinated travellers were scrapped.
Holiday Elite homeworker Michele Martin bagged a £71,200 sale for a party of 20 to all-inclusive resort Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki, Greece, for 11 nights in 2023 to celebrate a 60th birthday. The client booked this month after initially enquiring in December.
Essex-based Martin said: “I’m buzzing. I knew this would be a good booking but didn’t realise it would be quite so much. I offered her another quote at £46,000 but she’d been there before and wanted somewhere different.”
Homeworker Anna Bradbury made a £39,000 booking to the Maldives for a family of four following the relaxation of testing rules.
The agent, who trades as Luxscape Travel, part of Your Holiday Booking, was approached by a client last February about the March 2022 holiday after an online booking was cancelled due to Covid.
“The client was concerned about insurance and hesitant last year so didn’t book,” said Bradbury. “Out of the blue he called to look at the holiday again. He felt more comfortable after the announcements. This is my biggest booking. It made the work I did last time worth it.”
Within days, Bradbury had booked a nine-night Travelpack package at the Kanifushi Residence in the Maldives including business-class flights with British Airways.
“He’d done his research and upgraded the accommodation, spending about £10,000 more than his previous booking,” she said, adding: “People have waited so long. If they are going to travel, they’re going to go big.”
Meanwhile, Baldwins Travel reported a £75,000 sale at one of its shops this month.
Jack Mason, chief executive of parent Inc & Co, said: “People have been saving and are looking to splash out. They want to book bigger family holidays and big experiences. They know Covid exists but they want to get on with their lives – and booking a holiday is one of the first steps back to normality.”