Holiday cottages in England experienced their busiest day ever for bookings after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the reopening of the tourism industry from 4 July, sparking hopes of a staycation boom that could boost the economy by £33 billion.
Cottages.com and sister company Hoseasons reported record one-day sales following the announcement on Tuesday, with bookings coming through at one every 11 seconds. Simon Altham of parent company Awaze UK said year-on-year sales were up 270% for Hoseasons and 455% for cottages.com, smashing previous records. 'We were expecting greater levels of interest, but the surge in demand was still surprising,' he added.
Independentcottages.co.uk, representing 1,800 cottages in Britain, also saw a 'frenzy of booking,' according to owner Steve Jarvis. He warned that not everyone will find accommodation, as some owners have decided not to open yet. Haven holiday parks reported a 150% rise in online bookings compared with the same day last year, making Tuesday its third biggest sales day of 2020.
Campsites and glamping sites also saw a surge. Coolcamping.com reported a fourfold increase in bookings compared with before the announcement, while Canopy and Stars saw a 230% uplift in traffic. Mike Bevens, managing director of Canopy and Stars, said: 'Availability is now evaporating. People need to book quickly if they want a holiday in the UK this summer.'
Hotels also boomed. Best Western, which operates 300 hotels in the UK, saw a 575% increase in bookings in 24 hours. Head of hotels Andrew Denton described the day as 'crazy and exciting at the same time.' The surge in demand comes as a survey by caterer.com found 38% of people seeking more remote destinations, with the Scottish Highlands proving popular.
