XL.com see
bookings turn from last minute to first minute
Released
on: September 17, 2007, 3:47 am
Press
Release Author: Olivia Gourlay
Industry:
Consumer
Services
Press
Release Summary: Sun seekers smash summer 08 XL.com bookings within
first minute of going on sale
Press
Release Body: Unpredictable British weather and special deals for
early bookings are leading travelers to abandon late deals in favor
of ‘first minute’ offers according to XL.com,
one of the UK's biggest travel companies.
XL.com
(http://www.xl.com/) has seen growing
numbers of holidaymakers booking vacations up to 15 months in advance,
with record numbers making reservations when 2008 packages became
available on the website. Early in August the company made holidays
for summer 2008 available online and saw hundreds of customers booking
their 2008 holidays immediately.
Holiday
bookings (http://holidays.xl.com/)
smashed last year’s advance sales for summer 07 by 100% during
the first week of going live, showing the public is unwilling to
chance another soggy British summer. The top five destinations booked
for July 2008 were all destinations that boast guaranteed sun; Majorca,
Sharm El Sheikh, Tenerife, Rhodes and Turkey, with Benidorm, Lanzarote
and Gran Canaria close behind. In addition to family holidays, thousands
of one way flights to Alicante, Faro and Malaga are being booked
for next year with customers rushing to snap up bargain seats to
warmer climes.
Customers
saved over 50% by booking holidays 15 months in advance, with average
seven night holidays normally costing £400 priced from £189.
One way flights to Spain (http://www.xl.com/destinations_home.asp?desti=Spain)
booked in July 07 for July 08 can be priced anything up to 75% off
when booked up to one month in advance of travel with the majority
of airlines and travel companies.
The
biggest first minute holiday (http://www.xl.com/)
bookers were those from Manchester and Glasgow, with bookings from
this region up by 200% from last year. People from the South East
of England were also keen to book flights from Gatwick and showed
an increase of 72% in advance bookings compared to last year.
Neil
Mott, General Manager, XL.com, commented: “We
believe ‘First Minute’ booking is the new holiday buzz
word as savvy travelers are wising up to the fact that some of the
best offers are released up to a year in advance – not necessarily
at the last minute. By signing up to our email Newsletter, customers
get advance notice of offers and incentives such as free child places
and free hotel upgrades, encouraging them to book through XL.com
sooner rather than later.”
He
continued: “We believe the psychological comfort of having
holidays ‘in the bag’ is a major factor accelerating
reservations year on year. The wet weather may also explain this
year’s staggering rate of bookings, as our customers want
as many sunny holidays to look forward to as possible.”
Mrs
Grogan, 47, from Kent said: “I used to think
booking last minute was the best way to save money, but it’s
definitely the other way round - I saved over a thousand pounds
booking my holidays in advance next year through XL.com and got
far more choice by picking the best resorts before anyone else.
The kids can’t wait.”
-ends-
Notes
to editors:
XL.com currently offers charter flights to over
50 destinations from 12 UK airports. For interviews, case studies
or more information, contact Kate Finn or Liz Shuttleworth at Talk
PR on 020 7544 3871.
Web
Site: http://www.xl.com/
Contact
Details: XL.com PR contact:
Olivia Gourlay
Talk PR
36 Golden Square
London
W1F 9EE
0207 544 3853
Back
to previous page...
Back
to home page...
Submit
your press releases...
|
2012
