Strong demand for European beach hotspots this summer has continued to dominate sales as the trade enters its third month of the peak season.
Agents reported another robust trading week despite some drop off in branch footfall and booking numbers and some sales taking longer to convert.
Summer sales have retained the lion’s share of business, although bookings for next year and beyond are on the rise, according to the trade.
More: Ryanair and Wizz Air see rise in February carryings
Mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands, Canaries, and Greece remain the most popular summer destination choices.
But agents also cited cruises, Italy, the US, Australia and New Zealand as enjoying consistently good growth and helping to drive sales for other seasons.
Premier Travel managing director Paul Waters said: “European beach destinations still remain the strongest product, however, cruise had a very strong week for us and is one of the reasons we saw an increase in our 2024 and beyond departure business.”
Last week, 57% of Premier Travel’s sales were for this summer and 20% were for next year and beyond, up 5% on the previous week.
Waters said sales volumes had reduced in February compared with January but remained higher than normal for the month. “Last week, sales were still very strong and the same high percentage increases as we were getting in January,” he said.
Spear Travels saw footfall and booking volumes drop over the last fortnight but said average booking values had risen during February.
The school half terms spanning two different weeks across the agency chain’s branch locations had “naturally had an impact across our trading areas” said head of retail operations Natalie Turner.
June was the most popular departure month last week across Spear’s sales while the number of winter 2023 to 2024 bookings confirmed in February increased and there was “relatively small demand” for holidays next year.
Hays Travel North West managing director Don Bircham said there was “no sign of sales dipping”, with last week’s sales 30% up on the same week last year. Cruise sales were strong while Tenerife, Palma and Alicante were the strongest performers for package holidays.
The share of bookings for summer was 78% while 11% of sales were for late departures and the remaining 11% for next winter and summer 2024.
Jo Richards, director, Tivoli Travel, said working longer days remained the norm for agents, with administration changes due to flight cancellations still an issue.
She said: “Demand is still high; there’s no end in sight. But it’s a bit harder work as tour operators still haven’t got the staff and we’ve had flight changes so it’s normal to work until 8pm or 9pm most nights. We’re not moaning, it’s just the volume of work. I think it will continue like this.”
Daniele Broccoli, managing director, trade-only operator Typically Holidays, agreed and said bookings were taking longer to convert. “It’s calmed down a bit [from January] but it’s still busier than normal and we are working harder for the bookings. Clients go away and rethink, change their minds, and you have to requote,” he said.