Latest news with #MarkDuguid
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Long-haul holiday bookings now more popular than ever, travel firms report
Holiday companies are reporting a sharp rise in demand for long-haul breaks because prices are often 'more cost-effective' than visiting European alternatives. Surrey-based luxury travel brand Kuoni reported that long-haul bookings for the year ahead are 14 per cent higher than at the same point in 2024. It attributed this to strong sales for people seeking 'winter sun, family adventures or multi-centre escapes'. Among Kuoni's most popular long-haul destinations are the Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa. Kuoni managing director Mark Duguid said: 'We've had a terrific start to the year with a real breadth of destinations around the world selling well. 'It's clear that long-haul is really winning out right now for lots of different reasons. 'Value shines through as a common theme,' he said. 'Vietnam is a good example of somewhere which is leading the way with experience and adventure travel, with contrasting bustling cities, food, culture and fabulous beaches which creates an ultra-special trip but at affordable prices.' Online package holiday company Thomas Cook also reported a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in long-haul bookings. A spokesman said there is particularly strong demand for breaks in faraway locations in the summer, because the price of these bookings is 'comparable to holidays in the Med'. He added: 'Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore a new country.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said: 'This year we've seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across our agency partners, with demand accelerating as we moved from January into February. 'Interestingly, many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the Far East where local costs remain attractive.
The Guardian
18-02-2025
- The Guardian
Holiday firms reporting surge in demand for long-haul breaks
Holiday companies are reporting a surge in demand for long-haul breaks amid claims that the likes of Thailand and Vietnam are now often 'more cost-effective' than visiting traditional European favourites. On Tuesday, travel brand Kuoni said long-haul bookings for the year ahead were 14% higher than at the same point in 2024. Meanwhile, online package holiday company Thomas Cook reported a 10% year-on-year increase in long-haul bookings. Kuoni said it was seeing a particular interest in 'experience-led trips' that included things such as wildlife encounters, cookery classes and a focus on wellbeing. Among the firm's most popular long-haul destinations were the Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa. Kuoni UK's managing director, Mark Duguid, said it had enjoyed a 'terrific' start to the year, 'with a real breadth of destinations around the world selling well', adding: 'It's clear that long-haul is really winning out right now, for lots of different reasons.' However long-haul flights have long been criticised for their significant environmental impact relating to the amount of carbon emissions they generate. Value for money came through as a common theme for the current popularity, and Vietnam was highlighted as 'a good example of somewhere which is leading the way with experience and adventure travel', with its cities, food, culture and beaches combining to create special trips 'at affordable prices'. At Thomas Cook, a spokesperson said that when it came to the summer months in particular, the price of breaks in faraway locations was often 'comparable to holidays in the Med, so people are willing to head further afield and try somewhere new with their holiday spend'. This renewed enthusiasm for travelling farther afield may also be linked to tax changes on pensions announced in last October's budget, which led to predictions that some older people were likely to withdraw more of their pension cash and spend it on holidays and other big-ticket items in order to reduce the value of their estate. Thomas Cook said one of the big 'winners' was the US, especially New York, Florida and Las Vegas. At the time of writing, the firm was selling seven-night packages to Las Vegas including return flights from London for under £550 per person. The spokesperson added: 'Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore a new country.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said that so far this year it had seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across its agency partners, with demand accelerating in the last few weeks. 'Many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the far east, where local costs remain attractive,' she said. The popularity of shows such as The White Lotus, whose current third season is set in Thailand, and ITV's Love Island All Stars, filmed in South Africa, would fuel fresh interest in these destinations for 2025 holidays, she added. It was announced in last October's budget that unspent money left in a pension plan after an individual's death will be included in inheritance tax calculations from April 2027. That led to claims in some quarters that this 'tax grab' could backfire, with Ros Altmann, a former pensions minister, quoted as saying that the policy created a 'huge incentive' to spend money rather than save it.
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Holiday firms report surge in long-haul bookings
Holiday companies are reporting a sharp rise in demand for long-haul breaks because prices are often 'more cost-effective' than visiting European alternatives. Surrey-based luxury travel brand Kuoni reported that long-haul bookings for the year ahead are 14% higher than at the same point in 2024. It attributed this to strong sales for people seeking 'winter sun, family adventures or multi-centre escapes'. Among Kuoni's most popular long-haul destinations are the Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa. Mark Duguid, Kuoni Kuoni managing director Mark Duguid said: 'We've had a terrific start to the year with a real breadth of destinations around the world selling well. 'It's clear that long-haul is really winning out right now for lots of different reasons. 'Value shines through as a common theme. 'Vietnam is a good example of somewhere which is leading the way with experience and adventure travel, with contrasting bustling cities, food, culture and fabulous beaches which creates an ultra-special trip but at affordable prices.' Online package holiday company Thomas Cook reported a 10% year-on-year increase in long-haul bookings. A spokesman said there is particularly strong demand for breaks in faraway locations in the summer, because the price of these bookings is 'comparable to holidays in the Med'. He added: 'Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore a new country.' Many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage Travel Partnership Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said: 'This year we've seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across our agency partners, with demand accelerating as we moved from January into February. 'Interestingly, many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the Far East where local costs remain attractive. 'The popularity of shows like White Lotus, set in Thailand, and Love Island: All Stars, filmed in South Africa, will also fuel further interest in these destinations for 2025 holidays.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Holiday firms report surge in long-haul bookings
Holiday companies are reporting a sharp rise in demand for long-haul breaks because prices are often 'more cost-effective' than visiting European alternatives. Surrey-based luxury travel brand Kuoni reported that long-haul bookings for the year ahead are 14% higher than at the same point in 2024. It attributed this to strong sales for people seeking 'winter sun, family adventures or multi-centre escapes'. Among Kuoni's most popular long-haul destinations are the Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa. Kuoni managing director Mark Duguid said: 'We've had a terrific start to the year with a real breadth of destinations around the world selling well. 'It's clear that long-haul is really winning out right now for lots of different reasons. 'Value shines through as a common theme. 'Vietnam is a good example of somewhere which is leading the way with experience and adventure travel, with contrasting bustling cities, food, culture and fabulous beaches which creates an ultra-special trip but at affordable prices.' Online package holiday company Thomas Cook reported a 10% year-on-year increase in long-haul bookings. A spokesman said there is particularly strong demand for breaks in faraway locations in the summer, because the price of these bookings is 'comparable to holidays in the Med'. He added: 'Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore a new country.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said: 'This year we've seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across our agency partners, with demand accelerating as we moved from January into February. 'Interestingly, many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the Far East where local costs remain attractive. 'The popularity of shows like White Lotus, set in Thailand, and Love Island: All Stars, filmed in South Africa, will also fuel further interest in these destinations for 2025 holidays.'
