Britons desperate to get away this summer have been scrambling to arrange high-end staycation plans in the UK as Boris Johnson unveiled his ‘roadmap’ out of the lockdown today.
Four and five-star hotels across the country have seen a surge in demand since the national lockdown as holidaymakers desperate for some respite from the coronavirus crisis look closer to home.
Figures released by Avvio, which provides technology to over 500 hotels around the world, revealed the revenue for August has risen by a whopping 239 per cent and July by 166 per cent.
The data, which was released today, also showed the revenue for June is up by 63 per cent.
It comes as Boris Johnson unveiled his ‘roadmap’ out of the lockdown in a statement to the Commons this afternoon and warned the ‘threat remains’ and cases, hospitalisations and deaths will rise in the coming months.
Under the new plans, campsites and domestic holiday lets can reopen for single households from April 12 – but international travel is completely off the cards until at least May 17.
Britons desperate to get away this summer have been arranging high-end staycation plans in the UK. Pictured: Bournemouth beach
Announcing his plans the Prime Minister said: ‘The threat remains substantial with the numbers in hospital only now beginning to fall below the peak of the first wave in April.
‘But we are able to take these steps because of the resolve of the British people and the extraordinary success of our NHS in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the UK.’
Mr Johnson said there would be a five-week gap between the main steps in the roadmap and explained it would take four weeks to assess the impact of each step.
‘I won’t take that risk,’ Mr Johnson said.
‘I understand their frustration and I sympathise very much with the exhaustion and the stress that people are experiencing and businesses are experiencing… but to them I say the end really is in sight.’
Earlier today Avvio’s Chief Commercial Officer, Michael De Jongh, said: ‘We’ve all had a tough year and people are desperate to get away this summer.
‘Many consumers feel it’s too risky to book a foreign holiday, so they’re using the money they would have spent going abroad to treat themselves to an incredible stay at a 4 or 5-Star hotel in the UK instead.
‘It may well be the first time many of them have stayed in such a high-end hotel.’
‘Of course none of us can be 100 per cent sure what the situation will be like by the summer, but so long as consumers make sure they can amend or cancel their booking easily, they won’t be left financially worse off if lockdown continues longer than anticipated.’
The figures by the property site also showed that that staycation booking was also booming across all types of hotels and self-catering accommodation, with August hotel and self-catering bookings up 91 per cent ahead of last year.
July also saw a 45 per cent rise from last year in bookings and September was up by 36 per cent.
Avvio also revealed that there had been a 58 per cent surge in extended families booking summer hotel and self-catering staycations together, a 76 per cent increase in how much they’re spending and a 41 per cent rise in how long they’re going away for.
The data comes after it was revealed that hotels across the country had started to reap the rewards of the increasing number of Brits looking to take a break while staying close to home.
Holiday operators regularly hike prices for Easter to make the most of high demand, but this year it seems extremely high compared to a few weeks before.
At Butlins Bognor Regis in Somerset for example, a Gold Apartment for four people is on offer for a week from March 19 for £318, but £1,353 from April 2 – an increase of £1,035 or 325 per cent.
The same room is available for a week from July 12 for £1,048 – rising to £1,701 from July 26, after the summer holidays start, an increase of £653 or 62 per cent.
Boris Johnson unveiled his ‘roadmap’ out of the lockdown in a statement to the Commons this afternoon
Figures released by Avvio revealed the revenue for August has risen by a whopping 239 per cent and July by 166 per cent. (Stock image)
Butlins is currently offering summer holidays for ‘£270 per break’. At the same point last year, an archived version of its website shows it was offering summer summer holidays ‘from £235 per break’. This means its minimum price is up £35 or 15 per cent at the same point this year.
Meanwhile at Center Parcs in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, a two-bed Woodland Lodge for seven nights from March 19 for £978, while from April 2 it is £2,498 – a rise of £1,520 or 155 per cent.
The same accommodation at the site for seven nights this summer is £1,608 from July 12 or £2,178 from July 26 – an increase of £570 or 35 per cent.
As for Haven, a standard caravan for seven nights at its Riviere Sands resort in Cornwall is on sale from March 19 for £186 or from April 2 for £502 – a rise of £316 or 170 per cent.
In his address to the Commons today, the Prime Minister revealed that his first steps to freedom would be to prioritise getting children fully back into classrooms in a fortnight’s time, while people will also be able meet one friend or family member in the park for a coffee or a picnic from March 8.
The next stage of loosening will not be until March 29, when the Rule of Six will make a comeback – and be extended to allow two households to gather, enabling relatives to meet properly for the first time in months.
That date will also see the reopening of tennis courts and golf courses and the return of grassroots football.
But shops, hairdressers and pubs must remain closed until April 12 at the earliest – the same time gyms can get back up and running – regardless of mounting fears about the economic meltdown. Even at that point pints and meals can only be consumed outdoors.
Campsites and holiday lets can reopen for single households from April 12 – but international travel is completely off the cards until at least May 17.
Social distancing rules will stay in force until June 21 at the minimum, with a government review to decide their future after that.
Sports can start to return from May 17, although venues will need to work on reduced capacities.
Up to 30 people can go to weddings from the same date, but are stuck at that number until the next phase of the roadmap.