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UK: Awaze has reported a surge in last-minute bookings ahead of the Easter break, as travellers opted for UK staycations over long-haul trips.
The company, which owns Cottages.com and Hoseasons, said bookings made the day before departure increased by 33 per cent year-on-year in the two weeks leading up to Easter.
Overall, 22 per cent of UK bookings were made within two weeks of departure, highlighting growing demand for flexible, last-minute travel.
The trend translated into stronger occupancy for operators. In the week before Easter, bookings rose by 38 per cent year-on-year for Cottages.com and 11 per cent for Hoseasons.
Larger properties saw the strongest growth, with bookings for homes sleeping more than 10 guests up 34 per cent across Awaze’s UK portfolio.
Longer stays also increased, with bookings for five to seven nights rising by 54 per cent in the two weeks before Easter.
Demand was driven by coastal destinations including Cornwall and Devon, alongside countryside locations such as Yorkshire and Cumbria.
Properties with added amenities also performed strongly. Bookings for homes with hot tubs rose significantly, with Hoseasons reporting near full occupancy across its hot tub listings over the Easter weekend.
Awaze said the data reflects a longer-term shift towards domestic travel, driven by cost of living pressures and ongoing global uncertainty.
Highlights
- Last-minute bookings up 33 per cent ahead of Easter
- 22 per cent of UK bookings made within two weeks of departure
- Bookings up 38 per cent for Cottages.com and 11 per cent for Hoseasons
- Large group properties see strongest demand growth
- Longer stays and hot tub properties show increased bookings
- Trend reflects continued shift towards UK staycations
