On The Beach Share Discussion Threads

[boonkoh] 09/7/2024 11:55

All the high frequency indicators are strong.- travel weekly anecdotal trading snippets from travel agents.- Barclays monthly spending reports- airport passenger volume stats- lower strikes and disruptions in airports vs last year- lack of catastrophe events in main destinations (natural disaster, safety, etc)We won't get a TU though until Aug/Sep, even if trading is ahead of expectations. Because anything could happen... one volcano could spoil everything...

[its the oxman] 05/7/2024 14:56

Just got back from Turkey and weather is still bloody awful here, got to be helping OTB.

[paleje] 02/7/2024 14:16

Ryanair have reported June traffic exceeding their all time high.

[paleje] 28/6/2024 14:54

I think Adam and biddy are right it's always been possible to book the parts separately, we've done it for the past 25 years and it gets easier, but my brother who still has young kids when he just wants a week or two in the sun and he's not time rich, he takes a package, he's also had the odd problem from time to time, OTB on one occasion, and they were great fixing it couldn't do enough to help and upgraded his stay.

I think it will stay that way, people want convenience, they don't cook they buy meals in, they don't go and shop they do it online and someone else chooses for them and another person delivers, I think there will always be a call for all-in holiday shops of one sort or another. As for cost well it can work out cheaper if you're not too savvy and not everyone likes haggling terms.

One example we were on verge of booking a Portugal break nice place which we know, got one price from the owner then a price 14% cheaper from booking.com.

[biddy74] 28/6/2024 14:36

I book all my own stuff now however I am invested here. The actual driver to more people returning to packages was Covid. With a package you are protected in full for the holiday. Without you are at the mercy of individuals. For instance your accommodation doesn’t care your flight was cancelled. Hence for many packages are an attractive proposition.

[highlands] 28/6/2024 13:02

I used several packaged holidays in the past, and so did my friends, so I am just going by the fact that we all haven't for the past few years. Apart from trying to get the best for your buck, it is easier to plan and book your own holidays now than in the past. That is my opinion. Also, the packages are too restrictive.

[adamb1978] 28/6/2024 12:57

Some people have always planned and booked their own holidays, just as other people have always used operators etc. This isnt a new phenomenon. Different people go in different directions.

What makes you think there is going to be a material shift to people arranging their own holidays? I haven't read anything suggesting that

edit: you could re-write your post saying "if fewer" rather than "if more" and turn the rest of the sentence around the other way. But equally I havent seen any data suggesting that is happening either

[highlands] 28/6/2024 12:49

If more people start organising/planning their own holidays and book flights/accommodation/transport directly, it will impact companies like OTB, who are essentially doing the same thing and charging a premium and providing less flexibility.

[weaverbeever] 28/6/2024 09:32

That's what I do. lots of my friends don't. Different people like different things

[highlands] 28/6/2024 09:02

I spent around 15k on a 3 week family holiday last year and will be spending around the same for a 3 week family holiday this year, and both cases I planned and booked everything myself (well in advance) getting maximum value for my money and the itinerary I want.A lot of my friends have been doing the same.

[zam1] 20/6/2024 11:20

Expect OTB to do well during the summer months.

[alotto] 19/6/2024 08:03

OTB has been one of those dogs with supposedly huge potential for recovery which never materialised.

[ianio5691] 19/6/2024 07:44

Think we will see a decent recovery as the holiday season starts with a vengeance - all the money held in escrow for pre-paid holidays will now systematically convert to cash in the bank as those holidays are undertaken.
I can foresee a huge last minute demand for holidays abroad as this summer, as the weather at home looks to be one of the worst wash outs on record.

[halfpenny] 19/6/2024 06:51

Margins Increase and costs are kept low and with AI there will be a great future ahead as Demand and Sales Increase beyond expectations.

Future getting brighter as Summer starts and their Products and Services cover all Seasons.

[simmsc] 17/6/2024 19:42

Do OTB not have a relatively low overheads cost?

[paleje] 17/6/2024 15:30

Recruitment for the UK summer holiday season sharply down on last year, being attributed to the new min wage but that wouldn't account for it all, I used to work in the sector and if you've got the bookings you get the staff and if it means paying so be it. I think the number of Brits seeking overseas decent weather and value is at least as much to blame and that means extra business for us.


.com/business-money/economics/article/summer-job-cuts-as-minimum-wage-bites-5qhgg8j38

Summer job cuts as minimum wage bites
Hiring for seasonal summer jobs has fallen sharply as employers grapple with rising wage costs
Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor
Monday June 17 2024, 12.01am, The Times
Economics
Job postings in the hotel and accommodation sector were down by 45 per cent in April and May, compared with the same period last year

GETTY IMAGES,
Share
Save
The rise in the minimum wage is piling pressure on employers, who are cutting back on hiring this summer amid broader fears of labour shortages in key sectors of the economy, according to new figures.

Data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, an industry body, shows job postings for temporary summer jobs have fallen sharply in the hotel, restaurant, tourism and construction sectors in April and May, compared with the same months last year after a climb in the minimum wage.
Summer job cuts as minimum wage bites
Hiring for seasonal summer jobs has fallen sharply as employers grapple with rising wage costs
Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor
Monday June 17 2024, 12.01am, The Times
Economics
Job postings in the hotel and accommodation sector were down by 45 per cent in April and May, compared with the same period last year
Job postings in the hotel and accommodation sector were down by 45 per cent in April and May, compared with the same period last year
GETTY IMAGES,
Share
Save
The rise in the minimum wage is piling pressure on employers, who are cutting back on hiring this summer amid broader fears of labour shortages in key sectors of the economy, according to new figures.

[johndoe23] 12/6/2024 14:22

Good news regarding inflation

[gripfit] 11/6/2024 15:20

Mkt in turmoil today .. but OTB is shining 🌞🌞

[death by donut] 10/6/2024 07:32

Not me , I'm down in the caravan enjoying the pasties.DbD :-)

[oakville] 10/6/2024 06:19

June 2024 now predicted to be complete washout. Will the UK holiday makers give up on the seaside?

[oakville] 06/6/2024 07:08

This could be a decent recovery play.

[simmsc] 06/6/2024 05:46

I'm regularly in Asia (once every 2 months) and often stay in the same Marriott, and usually at least once meet up with the MD who runs this Marriott and have a chat with him. At some point we got on to the topic of investments and i mentioned that i had a holding in OTB (and mentioned to him that they are now also focusing on the premium end of the market). He then winced at me and said he is still seeing a lot of weakness from the "European" consumer (he didn't mention the UK specifically to be clear) and that the third largest German agent had just gone bust (and that quite a few agents owe them large amounts of money and some difficult conversations are currently taking place with those agents) and he then concluded that he in general still had concerns about the premium end of the holiday market.


Just sharing as this is first hand info (directly from the horses mouth), but of course it is just one persons opinion (and no reference was made to the UK travel sector).

[zam1] 05/6/2024 20:10

Strange up it went 47 and then back to where it started.I think this will break upwards this summer.

[ianio5691] 03/6/2024 13:22

Feels like this is about to recover nicely.