First Choice’s online destination service sector has seen a 37% rise on total transaction value to £159 million although trading losses rose to £1.7 million.
The figure for the six months to April 30 compares with £116 million in the same period the previous year. The sector covers the brands Hotelsbeds, Bedsonline and Hotelopia. They saw a 64% rise in bed nights to 4.45 million with revenue per bed night up by 6%.
But Hurricane Wilma in Mexico – a key winter destination for Hotelbeds – hit winter trading. As a result the trading loss rose by £600,000 to £1.7 million, including a £400,000 winter loss incurred by Greek destination services business Meriden, acquired in December for £3.7 million. Hotelbeds now operates 67 offices in 16 countries.
Bedsonline saw TTV rise by 126% having increased its travel agent customer base to 95% of the consortiums in Spain while Portugal is also seeing growth.
B2C brand Hotelopia saw first half TTV rise by 71% following accommodation supplier agreements with bmi, bmibaby and Spanair in addition to EasyJet. Incremental costs at Hoteliopia rose by £900,000 in the period.
Report by Phil Davies
