Feedback conducted by TTG following the scheme, which took place 2-8 November with 115 suppliers, found 38% of suppliers said they saw an increase in bookings – with 29% enjoying a sales upswing of between 21-30%.

All supplier respondents said they would take part in a future Holiday To Help Out Week.

Among the suppliers who took part, Beachcomber saw sales rise 8% year-on-year compared with the same week in 2019.

Managing director Mark Boulle said it was "a great result in the current climate, especially with the lockdown announcement coming when it did".

Other suppliers who voiced their praise for Holiday To Help Out included Shane Riley, associate vice-president of international sales at Virgin Voyages.

"Holiday To Help Out was an innovative way to gain positive press for the industry," he said. "It built upon a concept the public were familiar with and united the trade to have something positive to focus on."

Travel Gallery’s Farzana Dobbs said Holiday To Help Out "gave us much needed energy", while Premier Holidays director Mark Godfrey commended the initiative for coming "at a time when the industry needs support".

Andrea Keeble of Sani & Ikos Resorts said Holiday To Help Out had "united everyone to highlight the industry and try to gain some booking momentum".

Inside Travel Group’s Matt Spiller added: "It was great to see the industry coming together and a huge thank you to TTG for having the idea and making it happen."

Both agent and supplier respondents agreed the timing of the government announcement on 31 October for a second lockdown in England had proven "unfortunate", however many described how they were able to benefit from Holiday To Help Out nonetheless.

TTG editor Sophie Griffiths said she was "thrilled" to see such a positive response” to the scheme.

She said: "What started out as a small idea to kick-start the industry grew into a huge and exciting campaign with more than 115 suppliers taking part. The timing of the lockdown was incredibly frustrating and a huge blow to the sector after so many agents and tour operators worked so hard to champion the initiative.

"That said, it was fantastic to see Holiday To Help Out still boosting sales for a number of operators and agents and just as importantly, Holiday To Help Out provided the trade with something positive to focus on amidst the doom and gloom. 

"We were also excited to see such huge demand for TTG to bring back Holiday To Help Out in 2021. Watch this space..."