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Youtravel.com sees late sales surge
The dynamic packaging industry was more buoyant than expected in summer 2009 thanks to a late sales surge in June, July and August, according to independent accommodation supplier youtravel.com.

Sales and marketing director Paul Riches said: “We finished summer 2009 virtually flat – up slightly - against last summer, however considering the doom and gloom predictions from pundits earlier in the year this is quite an achievement.”

During summer 2009 the average sales value was up 12 per cent than that of summer 2008 thanks to currency fluctuations. However the fact that sales volumes are equal to last year illustrates the importance of people’s annual holiday despite the recession, according to Riches.

“It’s also in indicator that as a company we have matured and have a foothold as a major player within the industry. We are now three years old and have reached maturity and scale,” he said.

Despite pundits proclaiming that the euro zone would have a terrible year and that Turkey and Egypt would steal share, youtravel.com saw the euro countries hold their own throughout the summer.

Majorca was the top seller for summer 2009 for youtravel.com, and the Algarve was number four followed by Rhodes, Costa Blanca, Crete and the Costa del Sol, according to Riches.

He said: “Turkey unsurprisingly had a strong year, largely due to the strength of the pound offering great value in resort, with Dalaman coming in as the third best seller and Bodrum at number 10. Egyptian resorts also performed well proving that they’re contenders as year-round destinations, not just for the winter months. Sharm el Sheikh was in second place of the top selling list.”

Summer 2009: Top selling resorts for youtravel.com
1. Majorca
2. Sharm el Sheikh
3. Dalaman
4. Algarve
5. Rhodes
6. Crete
7. Costa Blanca
8. Costa del Sol
9. Tenerife
10. Bodrum

In terms of the fastest-growing destinations for youtravel.com during the summer months, the Greek Islands dominated. This sales spike was spurred on by youtravel.com’s strong partnership with new luxury hotel group, Aquis Hotels and Resorts.

Top of the list was the Algarve. Riches said: “This illustrates that when money is tight people are often looking for ‘safe’ destinations that they know well and are comfortable with – rather than taking a gamble on somewhere new. So a return to old favourites was somewhat predictable.

“Those destinations with a clear currency advantage though could not be ignored by thousands of Brits. Croatia, Turkey and Tunisia all featured in the fastest growing list – cementing their places in the hotspot list for the British traveller.”

Summer 2009: Fastest-growing resorts for youtravel.com
1. Algarve, 110%
2. Dubrovnik Riviera, 76%
3. Hurghada, 75%
4. Corfu, 52%
5. Crete, 38%
6. Kos, 36%
7. Rhodes, 35%
8. Halkidiki, 32%
9. Tunisia, 29%
10. Malta, 27%

Currently youtravel.com’s bookings for winter 09/10 are down 10 per cent against the same time last year. Riches explained: “With such a late booking summer a knock-on effect to the winter was inevitable, however we are seeing a one per cent swing every week for the winter, i.e. we were 11 per cent down for winter last week, 10 per cent this week. We expect to be at least on par with last year as we enter the season.”

Unsurprisingly Egypt and the Canary Islands are taking the lion’s share of the early winter booking market.

“Guaranteed sunshine without having to travel long-haul is seemingly the driving factor – Egypt has the edge on booking volumes presumably due to the currency exchange. However euro zone have made the top ten fastest growing chart, meaning that travellers are not willing to disregard destinations on the currency issue - plus all these destinations have great flight connections to mainstream and regional airports, another important factor,” added Riches.

Winter 2009-10: Top sellers for youtravel.com
1. Sharm el Sheikh
2. Benidorm
3. Hurghada
4. Tenerife
5. Lanzarote
6. Gran Canaria
7. Algarve
8. Cyprus
9. Costa del Sol
10. Tunisia

With the likes of Egypt and Turkey soaring in popularity, Tunisia looks to be the non-euro destination which still offers truly budget-friendly holidays and is seeing forward bookings soar by almost 400 per cent on this time last year, according to youtravel.com. “Hotels have undergone refurbishment in recent years and the destination is slowly reinventing itself as a player in the winter sun market. All eyes will be on Tunisia for next summer and winter to see if this surge in popularity continues,” said Riches.

The Canary Islands seeing an increase in popularity and have had a promotional push in the past couple of years - not least through hosting two ABTA Conventions, as well as in the national consumer press. Riches said: “The likes of Kate Moss and Coleen Rooney have been photographed in the Islands giving them a boost of celebrity sparkle. This has highlighted their world-class hotels, particularly those with spas - they’re not just for bucket-and-spade holidays.”

The rise in winter bookings to the Algarve and the Costa del Sol is mostly attributed to two groups - golfers and those on long-stay holidays. Riches said: “We think that both groups held off booking in the summer and saved their holiday for the winter when the Med is cooler, both regions are famous for the golf courses, as well as great value long-stay hotel options.”

Winter 2009-10: Fastest-growing destinations for youtravel.com
1. Tunisia, +389%
2. Lanzarote, +141%
3. Costa del Sol, +97%
4. Algarve, +72%
5. Gran Canaria, +54%
6. Sharm el Sheikh, +52%
7. Hurghada, +30%
8. Fuerteventura, +17%
9. Cyprus, +7%
10. Costa Blanca, +5%

Forward bookings for youtravel.com for summer 2010 are down around 10 per cent year-on-year. “The late booking trend for this summer and winter has had a natural effect on those booking ahead for next year. Families are holding off to see how their budgets look – this will have a major impact on the industry as these bookings used to be relied upon to come in at the end of the summer holidays, this is no longer the case,” said Riches.

“Corfu looks set to be a popular choice for next summer - thanks to youtravel.com’s partnership with Aquis Hotels and Resorts which offers quality accommodation at great value prices.

“While favourites like the Algarve, Costa Blanca, Tenerife and Majorca are coming through strongly - perhaps because people are hoping that the euro will weaken against the pound, but most likely because of their perennial popularity and if people didn’t go this year they will want to next year.”

Egypt and Turkey are showing strongly for next year thanks to great value for money - and those who went this summer are likely to want to revisit to explore more.

Summer 2010: Top sellers for youtravel.com
1. Algarve
2. Corfu
3. Sharm el Sheikh
4. Dalaman
5. Hurghada
6. Costa Blanca
7. Majorca
8. Corfu
9. Fuerteventura
10. Tenerife Vicky Karantzavelou - Tuesday, September 29, 2009