Travel Agents ? The long term demise of packaged travel?
As Thomas Cook and TUI the company behind Thomson Holidays hit the headlines this week due to their slumping shares and dip in sales, Pure Holiday Homes looks into whether is it really due to volcanic ash and the recession or are other factors to blame.
TUI has seen shares decrease by 2.8%, following a slump in bookings, and Thomas Cook’s is down 2%. Their recent press releases have argued that the dip in revenue and bookings is due to a mixture of air strikes, volcanic ash, recession and even the World Cup. This has led to booking volumes being reduced by 10% in the three months leading to the end of June, compared to the same period last year. But is the tradition of packaged holidays abroad changing, are more people looking to save money by self packaging?
Although the ash cloud which roamed our skies in May, is said to have caused £70 million worth of looses to TUI, it can be revealed that direct from owner holiday rental sites have seen a strong increase in enquiries and bookings. As the backpacker generation develops into the family holidaymaker and the time rich silver surfers become more internet savvy the long term rules of the travel game are changing. Statistics show that only 1 in 10 people in the UK now go on holiday without carrying out some prior online research, helping online holiday companies replace the need for conventional travel agents. Companies such as Pure Holiday Homes are able to cut out the middle man and offer holiday makers holiday rentals direct from the owner as a cheaper alternative to hotel or villa booking through companies such as Thomas Cook and Thomson Holidays. The direct from owner travel industry’s popularity is increasing as shown by the 17% increase in online travel sales from 2007 to 2008 with the self catering holiday market worth $25 billion annually in Europe and between $60- $100 billion globally. Indeed one large travel operator, Expedia have recently acquired one such direct from owner website, Holiday-lettings.co.uk as part of their strategy to get into a rapidly growing sector of the travel market whilst acting as a hedge against any further shift in booking habits form the UK traveller.
Many further acquisitions are anticipated as the travel market adjusts to the evolving trends of independent holidaymakers conducting their own research and then looking for the best value proposition of booking direct from the holiday home owner often saving more than 20% on the accommodation costs.
Although the internet has facilitated this change in holiday bookings, the UK public have also grown used to self packaging through the growth of airlines such as easyjet and ryanair, unless the travel groups react to this trend they could become the British Airways of the travel industry with great brands that a declining number of people use. Phil Agius, Joint CEO of pureholidayhomes.com stated “pureholidayhomes.com has seen the levels of enquiries to all destinations rise by 152% at a time where the mainstream travel agents have seen their levels of bookings fall by 10% over the exact same timescale”.
TUI and Thomas Cook may blame the World Cup, ash cloud or recession, but the internet is revolutionising the holiday industry, seeing more and more staying in self catering villas in and out of the UK. Companies like Pure Holiday Home can only move from strength to strength as the holiday industry changes and travel operators will have to move with the trends or else risk being left behind.
Pure Holiday Homes is a next generation holiday rental portal offering unique self-catering properties within the UK and abroad for holiday makers seeking great value, flexibility and a large variety of holiday options. Pure Holiday Homes presents properties in 56 different countries, with thousands of properties in destinations such as France, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Spain. The website offers user-friendly, effective and quick ways to book and search the ideal holiday home. There are no hidden costs or fees as holidaymakers deal direct with the property owners.
Pure Holiday Homes currently has a catalogue of over 12,000 homes which is expected to grow to 30,000 properties by the end of 2010. The website is perfect not only for holiday makers to find that perfect holiday rental, but is also a cost-effective way for homeowners to market their properties, for a modest £150 subscription. This competitive listing price is approximately half of that of most, more established companies in this sector.
For more information please visit www.pureholidayhomes.com
***Ends***
* 63,500 searches analysed.
Notes to Editor
pureholidayhomes.comis a next generation holiday rental portal offering unique self-catering properties at home and abroad for holidaymakers seeking better value, more flexibility and greater choice.
pureholidayhomes.comoffers fast, efficient and user-friendly ways to search and book that perfect holiday rental. Holidaymakers deal direct with owners so there are no hidden costs or fees. The website currently features over 11,700 properties, state-of-the-art search functions, and opportunities for last minute deals as well as fantastic early bird savings.
Other services include the Let Us Inspire You section, helping holidaymakers to choose the very best of summer holiday homes, charming cottages and seaside retreats, as well as many lovely properties in France and Italy. TheNews section reminds fun-loving travellers to book their accommodation in time for some of the most exciting events. The latest additions to the website are highlighted in Newly Added Properties.
For further press information please contact Mairi Lucas on Tel: 01753 728 730 or Email: mlucas@pureholidayhomes.com
Sean Thompson writes about Travel and self-catered accommodation news. Pureholidayhomes.com is a innovative new holiday accommodation portal. Find your perfect holiday home, villa, cottage or chalet from our vast database of luxury properties worldwide.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.