‘There are big bookings out there – for sure,’ says Holidaysplease chief
Will PayneConsumers are continuing to book high-value multigenerational family trips, honeymoons and other bucket-list holidays, despite increasing pressure on finances imposed by rising living costs in the UK.
That was the message from Holidaysplease co-founder and director, Richard Dixon, who spoke to TTG at the homeworking agency’s 2022 conference in Daventry on Friday (18 October).
"We are seeing a realignment in the market," he said. "As far as cost of living is concerned, I think it’s where you sit in the market place. Mass market could be impacted first, and potentially city breaks.
"But honeymoons, birthdays, milestones and multigenerational holidays are things people haven’t been able to do in recent years so they are still coming in in big numbers."
Dixon said the company’s average sales grew by 41% in September 2022 against 2019. "It’s just ridiculous," he added.
"Just this week we had a £53,000 booking to the Caribbean and a £65,000 booking out to Mauritius. There are big bookings out there for sure."
Dixon urged agents to be proactive in securing new business. "There is an opportunity in the marketplace for people who go at it with a good attitude, full of energy, and looking to try new things," he continued.
"You can’t wait for the new customers, you have to be pushing hard to find them and make the business happen."
He said the agency’s trading "hasn’t yet been impacted by the cost of living crisis", and the firm is continuing to generate inquiries via its website and in-person meetings.
"We’ve seen a little settling down of the ‘post-Covid booking bounce’, after pent-up demand subsidised as people took that holiday which was delayed, or postponed. That bounce has been replaced by what we regard as more normal trading conditions," Dixon added.
"Now, am I expecting the winter to be straightforward? No. [Co-founder and director Charles Duncombe] and I are thinking we might see the market unsettled a bit by the cost of living crisis, as well as other uncertainty that’s out there at the moment."
Despite the slight uncertainty coming into the winter period, Holidaysplease predicted it will make a full financial recovery from the pandemic by January 2023.
During the conference, the brand also unveiled a new online hub for its homeworking agents, as well as a £1,000 per month guarantee to new recruits.
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