From Travel Trade Gazette
March 19th 2004 -04:36 PM
Operators sold 14 per cent more summer 2004 holidays through high street agencies in February compared with the same month a year earlier – but cumulative shop sales are 14 per cent down on 2003.
Holidays sold through direct channels were one per cent up in February, but remain two per cent behind last year’s levels for the summer season to date.
ACNielsen figures show Thomas Cook sold 26 per cent more holidays through shops last month, while TUI, First Choice and MyTravel posted rises of 16 per cent, 11 per cent and one per cent respectively.
First Choice sold seven per cent more holidays through direct channels in February, Thomas Cook was up by six per cent and TUI an extra 11 per cent, while MyTravel’s figures were down by 27 per cent.
Total holiday sales for the big four were nine per cent up last month, but the market is still cumulatively 12 per cent down.
First Choice sold 110,000 holidays against MyTravel’s 147,000, Thomas Cook’s 139,000 and TUI’s 182,000.
February revenues were up 15 per cent thanks to an average selling price of £563 compared with £534 last February, but cumulatively revenues are three per cent down despite the average selling price for the season to date being £594 against £539 in 2003.
In retail, First Choice shops sold 56,000 holidays in February, up 27 per cent on the same month the previous year; MyTravel shops sold 91,000, up six per cent; Thomas Cook shops sold 100,000, up 13 per cent; TUI shops sold 130,000, up 20 per cent; and the Co-ops sold 84,000, up 25 per cent.
But cumulatively, First Choice shops are still two per cent down, MyTravel outlets are 47 per cent down, Thomas Cook shops are one per cent down, TUI shops are level and Co-ops are one per cent ahead.
February saw a slight improvement in Spain bookings, which were down just five per cent against its cumulative position of minus 23 per cent.
Last month’s big winners were Turkey, up 218 per cent; Tunisia, up 118 per cent; and Cyprus and Florida, both up 38 per cent. • See this week's TTG for TUI’s Peter Rothwell on Spain