Shearings introduces search option to find single hotel rooms

Shearings has introduced a search function which agents can use to find single hotel rooms while also bolstering its collection of solo traveller holidays.

The ‘Find Single Rooms’ search option details 250 hotels offering single rooms and is designed to offer a faster, simpler way to check which tours have availability.

It shows the total price, including the supplement, but also highlights the cost of the single supplement. Single supplements start from £39 for a four day UK short break, or £69 for a four day trip to Europe to visit Christmas markets in Germany.

The operator said the move was in response to increasing demand from solo travellers.

In addition it has increased the size of its Solo Traveller collection – which features tours with no single room supplement – by 40% year on year. So far this year five tours have been added and there are now 13 in total.

The most recent addition to the collection is a five-day Blenheim Palace, Oxford and Royal Windsor for Solo Travellers, from £995. The self-drive tour is one of Shearings’ Signature Collection and includes a lunch cruise on the River Thames, visits to Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle and the city of Oxford.

It is priced from £995, which includes four nights in a solo room with breakfast; four evening meals; three lunches; entrance fees and coach travel; and the services of a tour manager.

Other new tours are: Loch Ness & Inverness for Solo Travellers;  Highlights of the Lake District for Solo Travellers; Delights of the English Riviera for Solo Travellers; and Scotland’s West Coast & Isle of Bute for Solo Travellers.

Shearings’ head of retail sales Ashley Dellow said: “The number of customers choosing to travel solo is increasing year-on-year and we understand that not everyone wants to buddy up and share a room.

“There is limited availability on single-occupancy rooms at each hotel and the new ‘find single room’ finder will help agents quickly secure the booking.”

He added: “The dedicated ‘Solo Traveller’ collection is growing year-on-year and attracts those who prefer to travel with other like-minded singles.”