Bookings overall for the Christmas period are up 12% on 2024, with Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria taking the top three spots followed by Benidorm.
In long-haul destinations, the US, Dubai and Thailand are top. Advantage said Dubai “continues to attract both those looking for luxury as well as families seeking family-friendly resorts, shopping and entertainment”. It added Thailand, with options from backpacking to luxury resorts, offered a blend of affordability and exotic appeal.
Advantage said city break sales were strong, particularly to seasonal favourites like Budapest and Prague. It named lesser-known destinations such as Porto and Gdansk as offering “exceptional value”.
Overall, the most common trip length remains eight nights, consistent with 2024. All-inclusive packages accounted for around half of bookings. Advantage said these had grown significantly as consumers watched costs.
The consortium said 2025 bookings were 15% ahead of last year, with summer bookings accounting for 55% of all reservations. Average duration was 10 nights, the same as at this time in 2024.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage chief executive, said: “We’ve had a really strong performance throughout 2024 and it’s great that we’re ending the year on a high.
“The strength of trading throughout 2024 reflects the resilience of both our travel agent partners and the broader travel sector. The appetite for travel continues to grow as consumers seek both value and experience, and we’re excited to see this momentum continue into 2025.”
Advantage has added There.Travel to its membership under its Advantage Managed Services model. The start-up agency plans to specialise in cruise, off-the-beaten track experiences and luxury getaways and has an LGBTQ+ background.
