Travel agents have continued to enjoy robust late sales but have also reported strong interest in forward bookings as the peak summer holiday months come to an end.
The trade noted there was no sign of clients reining in holiday spend despite economic constraints.
The reports backed up new Travel Counsellors research which showed Brits have continued to prioritise holiday spend, with 29% planning to spend more on travel next year than this year, and fresh data from the Barclays Consumer Spend report, which showed spend with agents was up 7.2%, and transactions were up even higher, at 11.7%, after a “particularly strong August” due to “cut price deals”.
Barrhead Travel cited the unpredictable UK weather as helping to drive sales, particularly in the last few weeks, and stressed there was no sign of consumer spend or interest dipping.
President Jacqueline Dobson said: “The weather has been a key driver. Some operators and airlines have released flash sales on certain routes which have helped encourage late bookings – but it looks like demand is there across the price spectrum and for a range of destinations.
“From what we’re seeing, spend hasn’t dipped this year. If anything, durations are still up and upgraded rooms, cabins and flights are still sought after.”
But she noted clients still wanted to feel they were getting value for money. “Agents need to demonstrate the value on offer for every enquiry that comes through,” she said.
She agreed customers have continued to prioritise travel spend above non-essential purchases, adding: “I expect this will continue into 2025.”
Advantage Travel Partnership said bookings and revenue continued to outperform last year’s figures but suggested there was now evidence of the “post summer holiday slowdown” in some areas, with agents having to work harder to convert bookings.
Chief commercial officer Kelly Cookes said: “Late sales continue to be strong and 40% of what was booked last week was to depart within 12 weeks, with September being the top month.
“Average selling price dipped slightly last week which indicates operator pricing is strong and we know there are some key campaigns out there supporting this.”
The consortium’s focus on cruise this month has resulted in a 17% increase in cruise bookings last week, while average durations and all inclusive sales are also slightly up.
Cookes added: “[These are] no signs that customers are reigning in their spend but feedback from members is that conversions are tough. They are having to work hard in some cases to get bookings over the line.”
As the school holidays come to an end in England and Wales, Silver Travel Advisor said it was seeing strong late sales from its over-50s client base for the coming weeks.
In total, 35% of bookings in August were for departures within six weeks and 50% were for departures within 12 weeks, which it attributed to its customers being more flexible and able to depart within a short booking window.
Managing director Kerry Gallagher said: “Late summer and autumn are prime departure periods for our audience as they seek to avoid peak school holiday times.”
She said average booking values had held strong with no obvious impact from economic factors. “In fact in August our average booking value actually increased slightly,” she said, citing cruise and tailormade long-haul holidays as enjoying particularly strong demand.
High-street agency chain Seaside Travel said it was not just overseas holidays that were enjoying strong sales take-up in its shops.
“Our UK business in the last six weeks has been ‘next level’,” reported brand manager Richard Lowrey-Heywood.
This has included day trips and short breaks as second or third ‘holidays’, such as going to the world’s largest Primark in Birmingham on a shopping trip, a one-day train journey with Sunday lunch or an overnight stay in Newcastle.
“We are all about getting you away, whatever your budget,” he added.
At the same time, Seaside Travel has also reported strong interest in summer 2025 and 2026.
Lowrey-Heywood said: “Customers are excited; they want to book ahead and do payment plans. It just feels like we are back in the 1990s. Jet2 has got pre-registration forms so we can take people’s details for 2026 if they know what flight or hotel room they want and want to book in advance.”