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Cottages.com predicts staycation booking bonanza this summer
Staycation specialist cottages.com is predicting the fastest-ever summer staycation sell-out after seeing record bookings over the weekend.
The holiday property provider – sister company to Hoseasons and owned by Awaze UK – said it took more than 8,000 bookings over the weekend, enjoying consecutive record booking days on Saturday and Sunday.
It said Sunday’s ‘all-time greatest sales day’ was up nearly 20% on the previous record set last June when Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted UK travel restrictions at the end of the first national lockdown and parent company Awaze sold a break every 11 seconds.
The boom in domestic bookings coincides with Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s predictions of the prospect of a ‘happy and free Great British summer‘ on Sunday.
Simon Altham, Group Chief Operating Officer at Awaze, said: "These are astonishing figures. We saw a rapid increase in bookings last week off the back of the tightening of European travel restrictions, and that momentum only gathered pace over the weekend.
"People clearly want something to look forward to and a future holiday, when it is safe to travel again, is perfect for helping to get through the cold winter months during lockdown. It’s no surprise they have reacted to Mr Hancock’s comments and rushed to lock in a Great British summer break."
Nearly half of all holidays sold were for peak summer (July and August), while nearly a quarter were for staycation getaways in Cornwall and Devon.
Seaside breaks are also proving popular, with 50% of all weekend bookings featuring a coastal property.
The company said the hike in bookings has been mirrored by a surge in the number of new property owners joining cottages.com to make the most of the upcoming staycation boom.
January saw a year-on-year increase of 40% more owners signing up their property on the domestic platform.
By Louise Longman, Contributing Editor (UK)
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