Standout destinations included Europe, the Far East and Caribbean, while sales of cruise holidays spiked 53% year-on-year.

In Europe, Greece’s Ikos Dassia beach report in Corfu proved popular with families, while Ibiza and Tenerife led the way in Spain.

Sardinia, meanwhile, stood out as ITC’s key performer in Italy.

Further afield, ITC revealed Barbados was most popular among Caribbean travellers, accounting for 40% of the group’s Caribbean bookings in January.

Sales for US and Canada also grew year-on-year, fuelled by growing demand for luxury ranch holidays, city breaks and Rocky Mountain tours.

Thailand and Malaysia were ITC’s top performers in the Far East; Singapore and Hong Kong its top stopovers; with demand for Myanmar growing and Bali stable, despite natural disasters.

“The incredible sales seen over the past week at ITC Travel Group were truly unprecedented,” said ITC Travel Group chief executive Mal Barritt.

“Despite the backdrop of Brexit and economic instability, consumers are now more than ever prioritising holidays over other luxuries, demonstrating the remarkable resilience of the luxury travel industry.”