Hoseasons sees huge rise in January bookings

A new year bookings boom at Hoseasons has seen a 26 per cent rise in overall sales in the first week of January.

Bookings for the company’s lodges and parks were up 27% year-on-year, while activity holidays and boutique hot tub lodges saw increases of 21% and 19% respectively.

Travel agents and third parties performed particularly well, rising 36% over the same peak sales period last year. The self-catering specialist, which is part of Wyndham Worldwide, reported January 8 as its best-ever sales day.

The company cited concerns over the possible economic impact of Brexit, the falling value of the pound and the addition of more high-quality lodges with hot tubs as contributing to the rise in bookings.

Simon Altham

‘Year of uncertainty’

Managing director Simon Altham said customers were determined to have something to look forward to in what could be a difficult year ahead.

“Everybody knows that 2017 is shaping up to be a year of uncertainty, but the clear trend for us has been people moving early to guarantee their getaway and take advantage of some great value deals,” he said.

“We’ve invested heavily in technology, infrastructure and people over the last 12 months to ensure that we’re able to offer our customers a hassle-free, quick and easy booking experience across all devices, through our contact centre or through one of our high street partners.”

Geoff Cowley, managing director of Hoseasons’ parent company Wyndham Vacation Rentals, added: “Hoseasons is leading the way, particularly in terms of mobile, which accounts for the majority of its web traffic and a significant portion of bookings. Advances in dynamic pricing mean Hoseasons is now reaping the full benefits of our 2016 investment.”

Hoseasons has also reported a surge in booking for its European lodges and parks, with a rise of 34% compared to the same period last year.