“Nearly two-thirds of travel businesses are performing better on bookings for the year ahead compared with the same point last year, according to a straw poll by Travel Trade Consultancy (TTC).
When asked about bookings for 2027 departures, 30% of respondents said they were ahead of the equivalent point last year by 10% or more, with the same proportion saying they were ahead by 1%-9% and the same again saying they were broadly flat.
Ten percent said they were behind by 10% or more, while none said they were behind by 1%-9%.
Other findings included a fairly even split between those saying they expected to meet their budgeted profit target for the current financial year (52%) and those who did not (48%).
“It shows that a lot of operators are having to work a lot harder for lower returns,” said TTC director Simon Brodie.
Advantage Travel Partnership chief operating officer Paul Nunn cited the consortium’s recently released figures showing members were 9% up on revenue and average booking value compared with last year.
He noted the performance was achieved despite challenges including the Middle East conflict, rising costs and the EU’s Entry/Exit System.
“It never ceases to amaze me how resilient the industry is,” he said.
Advantage members have been reporting a shorter booking window this year, he noted, in line with TTC’s straw poll finding 43% of business have experienced a shorter window, compared with 29% who ticked ‘longer’ and 28% ‘the same’.
Advantage’s own data shows 45% of bookings made for the summer this year were secured within 12 weeks of departure.
“I think that’s incredible, but it’s a trend that started last year,” said Nunn, who added Advantage members seemed to have adapted successfully to the shifting patterns.
The TTC poll, conducted this week, also found 59% of respondents thought average prices this summer were higher than last year, compared with 27% who thought there were broadly flat, 9% who thought they were behind by 1%-9% and 5% who thought they were behind by 10% or more.
When asked how passenger numbers this summer compared with last summer, 41% said they were ahead by 10% or more, while 18% said they were ahead by 1%-9%, 14% were broadly flat, 9% were behind by 1%-9% and 18% were behind by 10% or more.”
You can read the full article on travelweekly.co.uk.
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