Travel Counsellors' clients seek flexibility amid crisis

More than 50% of respondents said they felt optimistic about booking a UK or international holiday departing this year or next, with 30% of those booked to travel overseas later this year still hopeful they will be able to travel.

However, their confidence doesn’t come at the expense of several ongoing concerns about travel; 70% of respondents said they were seeking clarification on quarantine restrictions in the UK and their proposed destination, as well as further information on health and safety measures being implemented by airports, airlines and accommodation providers in-destination.

Sixty percent said they would like to hear more details on flexible options when making a booking for later in the year.

"It’s clear that customers still have concerns over the current quarantine restrictions in the UK and in other countries," said Travel Counsellors UK managing director and chief commercial officer Kirsten Hughes.

“Understandably, travellers are looking for the most flexible options possible for trips towards the end of this year and next, and we’ve been working with all our supplier partners to understand the best opportunities available based on our customers personal preferences."

New bookings with Travel Counsellors feature now the homeworking firm’s "flexible promise", which allows clients to make free amendments up to eight weeks before departure on select packages, and applicable to new bookings for 2021.

Elsewhere, Travel Counsellors is experiencing week-on-week sales increases, with bookings made during the first two weeks of June surpassing total bookings made during the whole of April; 60% of TC business owners converted enquiries over the past seven days, with UK breaks still proving hugely popular, accounting for more than half of the firm’s enquiries last week.

It is also noting a trend towards winter sun bookings later this year and into early 2021 with seven out of ten bookings made last week to destinations in the Caribbean or Indian Ocean. However, the Mediterranean is continuing to prove popular for summer 2021, with Spain and Greece the most popular destinations for TC customers.

Additionally, Travel Counsellors said 70% of new bookings made last week resulted from personalised marketing content created in partnership with suppliers, "with a focus on UK staycation experiences proving most popular with Travel Counsellors customers".