Holiday company reports soaring bookings

Family holiday company Haven Holidays is urging holidaymakers to book early following record business over the May Day bank holiday weekend. All Haven’s 35 holiday parks were virtually sold out with bookings up by as much as 50% as holidaymakers flock back to traditional seaside resorts.

A combination of the high value of the Euro, economic uncertainty and recognition that the UK offers top value for money when it comes to holidays has encouraged more domestic holiday bookings than ever.

Haven is expecting another surge in bookings with the Whitsun break just days away and the peak school summer holidays almost on the horizon.

Dawn Macey Head of Marketing for Haven said: “Anyone who leaves booking to the last minute could be in for disappointment this year. Our advice to holidaymakers is to take advantage of any bargains while you can.

“Sales are exceptionally positive and people are demonstrating that they are prepared to pay more for their family holiday this year. We still have some good price deals available at the moment but don’t expect them to be around for long.”

And as well as enjoying record bookings from British holidaymakers, Haven has also seen a big increase in holidaymakers from Europe, in particular Holland and Ireland, as visitors from Euro-countries take advantage of the cheaper pound.

Haven reports that bookings by tour operators, who deal mainly with holidaymakers from abroad, are up 50% with the European guests also booking higher grades of accommodation this year.

European holidaymakers have been booking breaks across the country from Cornwall to Scotland as they see their euro go further in the UK than it would elsewhere.

Haven also attributes the soaring sales to an investment programme of more than £120 million in its holiday parks in the last three years.

Among recent projects have been new swimming pools, major refurbishments of venues and the addition of even more food and drinks options – including Starbucks coffee houses and Papa John’s pizzas. Sports, leisure and entertainment on the parks has been enhanced too. Annabel Karmel’s Creative Kitchen sessions have proved particularly popular with under-fives and the new ‘Water Walkerz’ are bouncing their way to success in the swimming pools.

Top performer for Haven this year has been Thorpe Park Holiday Park near Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire coast. The park, which has benefitted from more than £3 million of investment over the last two years has seen bookings increase by up to 40% compared to 2008.

Many of Haven’s holiday parks have four or five star tourism ratings and they have also won a host of awards for their care of the environment.

Interest is also expected to be boosted by forecasts from the UK Met Office for a ‘barbecue summer’ this year.

For more information visit haven.com.