Boss Steve Witt said the omens augured well for peaks, with Not Just Travel consultant’s clients spending an average of £5,348 on their Christmas Day bookings, up from £2,179 last year "despite holiday prices remaining relatively static".

Nonetheless, Not Just Travel co-founder Witt said the days of last-minute deals were gone, with "savvy" consumers keen to book early to secure the best possible prices amid the cost of living squeeze – and with trips likely to either go up in price quickly, or sell out.

Witt hailed Not Just Travel’s homeworking contingent for their work ethic over the festive period, adding the homeworking group’s Christmas trading successes underlined how travel had become "a 365-day a year industry".

Top destinations booked on Christmas Day included Spain, notably the Canaries and Balearics, Lapland, Turkey, Morocco, Greece and Egypt. More than 75% of all festive bookings came from repeat clients.

“We know the festive period means many things for many people, and now it’s clear that includes grabbing a fantastic holiday deal," said Witt. "A significant proportion of Christmas Day bookings this year are for Lapland, which has soared in popularity over the past few years. People know they need to book super-early to grab a limited place to this small destination."

Looking ahead to peaks, Witt said Not Just Travel was gearing up for its "busiest on record". "That means the very best holiday deals will sell out fast, availability will disappear at a moment’s notice, and you may not get your first choice of holiday at the price you want," he warned.

"Gone are the days of last-minute deals. Savvy consumers know they need to book ahead of the rush."