Agents have been urged to stay ‘laser focussed’ on summer 2026, as increased customer confidence builds momentum in the lates market, with ‘plenty’ of holidays still available.
Homeworkers attending easyJet holidays’ first Homeworker Orange PowWow (HOP) yesterday were told by Chief Operating Officer Paul Bixby: “There is plenty of opportunity, plenty of capacity. Everything your customer wants, they should be able to get.”
He told homeworkers: “We know it has been a bit of an odd year. The Middle East conflict did impact but it has come back very strong. Over the last two to three years, the mid- and short-haul markets have got later and later.
“There are still huge amounts of family holidays available, including to Turkiye, Greece, Egypt and Tunisia, and lots of free kids’ places.”
Head of Trade Distribution Natasha Marson said summer ‘ain’t over yet’ and urged agents to ‘remain laser focused on the next few months’.
She said shorter holidays of between one and six days are ‘selling fast’, with 76% of bookings in four- and five-star properties.
“Holiday demand remains resilient despite economic pressures. Customers are still purchasing,” she said. She added customers ‘want budget certainty’, with demand rising for ‘all inclusive and premium product to avoid unexpected costs when overseas’.
Natasha said 20-25% of easyJet holidays’ business is through the trade, adding: “You are an extension of our easyJet holidays’ family. Everybody in this room is important. You are valuable.
“Our focus is on making easyJet holidays even more distinctive and increasing our brand awareness so that customers think of us first and book their next holiday with you.”
Homeworking leaders attending the event at St George’s Park, Burton on Trent, said business is bouncing back, with customers snapping up good deals – although they warned prices will rise.
Designer Travel Managing Director Amanda Matthews said: “Over the last five weeks has been double digit growth. We have some very happy homeworkers and owners.
“There have been some absolute bargains as hotels put on some really high discounts. But there will be some toughening of prices because demand is definitely there.
“I think prices will stabilise and actually increase a bit but people will still book it.”
Not Just Travel co-founder Steve Witt said: “The last four or five weeks have been super strong.
“The cruise market has been strong, 60% of bookings are last minute and our margin is the strongest it has been for a long time.
“We are seeing energy coming back, with great deals. Many great deals are locked in but now prices will increase. We said at our conference [in the UK at the weekend] we believe there will be a second peaks.”
Sheena Whittle, Head of Personal Travel Agents at The Coop Travel, said last week was its best since January for bookings.
“The last four weeks have been really solid. Cruise is 14% up year on year. New holiday bookings haven’t really been impacted [by the Middle East crisis]. We do a lot of longhaul and last week we were 25% up on last year,” she said.
Inspire Travel owner and CEO Lisa Henning said bookings are up 90% since the Foreign Office lifted its travel ban to Middle Eastern destinations, and 70% of bookings are currently lates.
“We are holding our margin. June was definitely the strongest month [so far]. We can tell because there was no or very little discounting,” she said.
Solihull home-based agent Sue Lindsay, who works with Brilliant Travel, said more than 60% of her bookings have been lates over the past few weeks. “It’s a late market,” she said. “Families are booking a lot later. When they look at holiday prices in the UK and they compare with overseas, they are realising how much better value an overseas holiday is.”
