The Advantage Travel Partnership has revealed 79% of its members are seeing an increase in new customers, as well as a boost in bookings and revenue for this year.
The consortium’s agents have seen year to date bookings for 2024 increase by six per cent and spend increase by 10% compared to the same period in 2023.
Additionally, the majority of agents who took part in the latest Business Impact Survey in August said they are seeing new customers walk through the door, with the majority aged between 35-54.
Shoulder season travel is also gaining interest – 79% of respondents said they have more requests , citing cost and weather as the main drivers.
And despite reports of protests in destinations this summer, agents said there has been no impact on bookings.
Advantage Chief Executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “There has been no slowdown in the appetite to travel – and our results show that agents are in the best place to reassure new customers.
“There’s no denying that there’s an upward tick in people travelling over shoulder season months which is a trend we have been following for a while now. Travelling out of season can be a great way to see a destination without the crowds, for better prices and with milder weather.”
The cruise market is seeing the biggest revenue growth with a 16% increase on the same period last year. This trend is also reflected in the Business Impact Survey, with 72% of agents reporting an increased interest in cruise holidays.
The top destinations for the year so far are Spain, Greece and Turkey, with Tenerife taking the number one spot with a six per cent share of bookings.
Long haul bookings account for 12% with the USA, Caribbean, Australia, Dubai and Thailand performing well.
Mass market growth is up 10%, while touring is seeing a 12% boost.
The lates market drove the summer holiday departures, with 42% of bookings made and departing within 12 weeks – a trend that is up four per cent on last summer. Overall summer bookings were up five per cent, with an eight per cent increase on spend.
October half-term is showing strong sales so far with bookings up 15% and spend up 25%.
Chief Commercial Officer Kelly Cookes said: “This year has been strong, we’ve come off the back of a recovery year chasing 2023 numbers, but it is still strong.
“For summer one of the biggest things was the pure late business we saw come in. We didn’t really see the lower end family market travel, but we are seeing that for October half-term – and what’s great is operators are still adding capacity to destinations such as Turkey and the Balearics.
“Bookings remain strong for the upcoming major holiday periods in October and December and we are already seeing people looking ahead to their summer holidays next year to make the most of availability in terms of destination, duration and hotels as well as better deals and low deposits.”
For 2025, Advantage members are reporting bookings to date are up 10% and spend is up 13%.
Kelly added that many passengers are looking to travel to the Far East, to Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and Australia now the destinations are ‘actively courting tourists again’.
Additionally, members are seeing interest in lesser-known places such as Cambodia’s Siem Riep and Sihanoukville and Palawan in the Philippines.
Advantage expects 2025 to see an increase in cruise, ultra-all-inclusive, multi-generational travel with older children and sports and music tourism.
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The consortium’s agents have seen year to date bookings for 2024 increase by six per cent and spend increase by 10% compared to the same period in 2023.
Additionally, the majority of agents who took part in the latest Business Impact Survey in August said they are seeing new customers walk through the door, with the majority aged between 35-54.
Shoulder season travel is also gaining interest – 79% of respondents said they have more requests , citing cost and weather as the main drivers.
And despite reports of protests in destinations this summer, agents said there has been no impact on bookings.
Advantage Chief Executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “There has been no slowdown in the appetite to travel – and our results show that agents are in the best place to reassure new customers.
“There’s no denying that there’s an upward tick in people travelling over shoulder season months which is a trend we have been following for a while now. Travelling out of season can be a great way to see a destination without the crowds, for better prices and with milder weather.”
2024 booking trends
The cruise market is seeing the biggest revenue growth with a 16% increase on the same period last year. This trend is also reflected in the Business Impact Survey, with 72% of agents reporting an increased interest in cruise holidays.
The top destinations for the year so far are Spain, Greece and Turkey, with Tenerife taking the number one spot with a six per cent share of bookings.
Long haul bookings account for 12% with the USA, Caribbean, Australia, Dubai and Thailand performing well.
Mass market growth is up 10%, while touring is seeing a 12% boost.
The lates market drove the summer holiday departures, with 42% of bookings made and departing within 12 weeks – a trend that is up four per cent on last summer. Overall summer bookings were up five per cent, with an eight per cent increase on spend.
October half-term is showing strong sales so far with bookings up 15% and spend up 25%.
Chief Commercial Officer Kelly Cookes said: “This year has been strong, we’ve come off the back of a recovery year chasing 2023 numbers, but it is still strong.
“For summer one of the biggest things was the pure late business we saw come in. We didn’t really see the lower end family market travel, but we are seeing that for October half-term – and what’s great is operators are still adding capacity to destinations such as Turkey and the Balearics.
“Bookings remain strong for the upcoming major holiday periods in October and December and we are already seeing people looking ahead to their summer holidays next year to make the most of availability in terms of destination, duration and hotels as well as better deals and low deposits.”
Looking ahead to a strong 2025
For 2025, Advantage members are reporting bookings to date are up 10% and spend is up 13%.
Kelly added that many passengers are looking to travel to the Far East, to Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and Australia now the destinations are ‘actively courting tourists again’.
Additionally, members are seeing interest in lesser-known places such as Cambodia’s Siem Riep and Sihanoukville and Palawan in the Philippines.
Advantage expects 2025 to see an increase in cruise, ultra-all-inclusive, multi-generational travel with older children and sports and music tourism.
The post Advantage members report raft of new customers as bookings increase appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
