Speaking at the Advantage Conference in Madeira on Saturday (30 April), leisure director Kelly Cookes said data from its Advantage Managed Service (AMS) members show departures are down 5% compared to pre-pandemic figures.

Cookes said sales "continue to be strong on a daily basis", and expects 2022 departures for the half-term period to exceed those in 2019 by the middle of May. 
 
"Sales continue to show that UK consumers are keen to get away in May and that the appetite for travel remains strong," Cookes added.

"Turkey is proving to be increasingly popular this year with two resorts in the top five, and we are seeing that Dubai, while not one of the top-selling destinations, is surging in demand."

The group’s top destination for May is Majorca, followed by Tenerife, Costa Blanca, Dalaman and Antalya. Meanwhile, the most popular destinations in 2019 were Majorca, Costa Blanca, Costa Del Sol, Tenerife and Lanzarote.
 
Cookes said bookings for summer holidays "remain steady", but predicted the market will be late this year with consumers waiting until nearer the date of travel before booking.
 

"The booking window continues to be very late with an average of 40% of all of our bookings being made each week departing within 12 weeks," she continued. 

"We know that getting away for that well-deserved summer holiday is something that is at the top of everyone’s wish list after the last two years, and consumers are simply waiting to book their travels until nearer the time of departure."