Agents and operators report delayed peak booking season

The traditional peak booking period in January has shifted to February and March this year, according to research by Equator Learning.

The finding comes from a survey by the trade training platform, which quizzed more than 350 frontline travel agency and tour operator staff about booking trends, jobs and training.

According to the FrontLine Findings poll, 46% of respondents said the peak booking time will be at the end of this month, with 19% citing March and April as the main period for making sales.

Two fifths (41%) thought international travel would pick up in the second quarter of 2022,  and a similar proportion (39%) pointing to the third quarter of this year.

Luxury and cruise bookings were also increasing, reflecting “pent-up spending power and a desire for ‘trip of a lifetime’ experiences”, said Equator.

Southern European destinations remain popular, with some long-haul regions seeing increasing demand, such as the Caribbean, North America and the Middle East, particularly Dubai.

Southeast Asia continued to suffer from the impact of tighter travel restrictions, while Australia is now benefiting from opening up to visitors.

Ian Dockreay, chief executive of Equator Learning, said: “It’s fascinating to see how booking patterns are developing so fast in recent weeks as news of Covid levels throughout the world ebb and flow.

“Island destinations such as the Balearics, the Canaries, the Caribbean, Mauritius, the Maldives, Malta and the Greek islands are very popular.

“Clearly travellers see these as ‘safer’ destinations because of their smaller populations, and their perceived ability to curb the virus.

“With more staff returning to working normal hours, higher booking values and increasing volumes of sales, plus long-haul travel high on travellers’ agendas, we can all feel more encouraged.”

The survey also reflected how working circumstances for frontline staff are changing.

Only 10% of respondents said they were job hunting and 78% are working their normal hours.

One third of those who normally work in an office are still working from home.

Almost half (44%) spend between one and three hours per week improving their knowledge through training, and nearly 20% spending more than three hours per week.

Webinars showed a slight decline but remained popular.