Holiday trends, booking types and popular features in 2023 Emma Hallam, of Helpful Holidays, discusses the changing landscape of the holiday letting industry and the trends which can help ensure long term success.
H oliday letting in the South West has always been lucrative.
However, what is significant is that 27% say holidaymakers are now more likely to rebook the same properties. Building a loyal base of repeat customers is a fantastic way of ensuring long term success. This high number of rebooks is testament to the importance of agencies and owners ensuring guests have the best experience, where their expectations are met.
in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, in a bid to maximise income as well as reducing environmental impact. 22% of owners have made sustainable changes to their property, including installing heat pumps and electric charging points. Remember, any money saving techniques owners employ should not compromise guest experience. Simple steps like reminding guests to save
With the region’s mesmerising mix of breathtaking
coastline and stunning countryside, it is no wonder that it is favoured by those looking to own a holiday home, and holiday makers alike. Here, Emma Hallam, New Property Consultant at one of Devon’s leading holiday letting agencies Helpful Holidays, discusses how holiday home owners are finding the industry in the current market, and offers tips for those beginning letting. In the past five years, the landscape of holiday letting has changed… and then changed again. Now it seems more prudent to say that it is “ever evolving”! No longer do people look for one substantial summer holiday a year. Bookings are no longer primarily for 2 to 4 children families. So, in this ‘new look’ era of holiday letting - where short breaks and last-minute bookings are the rule, rather than the exception - what else are holiday home owners noticing? In a recent survey conducted by our parent company Sykes Holiday Cottages, we found 84% of owners believe bookings are stronger than ever, and expect this trend to continue over the next five years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 50% have also said they have witnessed an increased demand for UK holidays since the pandemic.
energy during their stay by turning off lights, and closing doors and windows to retain heat, can be very effective! In the current climate, making adjustments and investments to secure a
In terms of the type of bookings that owners are experiencing, 28% reported seeing more bookings for shorter breaks, 21% have seen more group bookings,
“We found 84% of owners believe bookings are stronger than ever, and expect this trend to continue over the next five years.”
while 17% reported an uplift in younger
continuous income revenue stream is fundamental. The average cost of investment needed annually in a holiday let sits at £7,400 (depending on the property size), with expenses including changeover costs, property maintenance, utility and subscription bills. To offset this, ensuring you are letting your property with a successful agency will be beneficial. They will ensure your property is maximising its potential, securing high year-round booking levels and generating a good income, that will quickly cover these running costs. *Statistics are from the Sykes Holiday Cottages Holiday Letting Outlook Report 2023 – an in-depth review of the UK’s short term accommodation industry.
groups. Whatever type of accommodation on offer - from treehouses to glamping pods, barn conversions to waterside apartments - owners must consider their target
groups and cater for a wide range of needs. Remember, in these evolving times, flexibility and inclusivity is vital. With reference to property features, over the last 12 months owners have found properties with hot tubs can earn 37% more, pet friendly properties earn 31% more and properties with wi-fi earn 26% more. If possible, adding these features to a property will pay dividends.
Many owners are also making changes
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