Holiday spend set to increase?

More than two-thirds of consumers will increase or maintain their holiday budget this year despite the economic gloom, according to Abta.

Its Holiday Value Report, out today, found that 68% of people asked were prepared to up their travelling budget or spend the same as last year.

It predicted the average spend this year will be £632 per person, or £2,500 for a family of four.

More than half were prepared to spend up to £500 on flights and accommodation, with 8% happy to pay more than £1,200 each.

It also found that the annual holiday was rated as the most prized annual purchase by 37% of respondents, well ahead of the next most popular purchase of a new car, which was backed by 15%.

Abta also found members were reporting a good response to early booking deals in the past couple of weeks.

Egypt, Turkey and long-haul destinations such as Orlando, as well as cruises, were said to be selling well.

“Holidays are important to people in different ways but the research is clear that holidays are a vital part of people's year and still will be this year despite the economic downturn,” said Casia Zajac, Abta head of communications.

The poll surveyed 2,447 adults between December 24, 2008, and January 5, 2009.

Travel will boost the economy - ABTA

Holidays will play a vital role in lifting the economy this year, according to an ABTA Holiday Value Report out today.

The survey showed 66% of the UK enjoyed a big emotional high from a summer holiday and nearly 50% believe the break from routine is a vital way of escaping the current economic downturn. Brits also rate the value of summer holidays three times higher than pay rises.

Encouragingly for the trade, the survey showed 68% of the public are prepared to up their budget or spend the same as last year. Contrary to fears of a late booking trend, it showed only 9% of people intend to leave their bookings until the last minute.

However, holidaymakers will still look for the best deals, with 50% prepared to spend up to £500 on flights and accommodation and only 8% prepared to pay more than £1,200. The average spend this year will be £632 - just over £2,500 for a family of four. The holiday also remains the most prized annual purchase at 37% compared to its nearest contender of a new car at 15%.

The results are from a OnePoll survey of 2,447 adults commissioned between December 24, 2008, and January 5, 2009.

Psychotherapist and life coach Christine Webber, who developed the survey for ABTA, said having a holiday to look forward to - "sunticipation" - would help lift the economic gloom.

She said: "Having something to look forward to like a holiday often helps us focus more on current tasks. Booking a holiday gives us an emotional lift."

"The nation is suffering from collective stress at the moment and holidays are one way of keeping the UK on an even keel. Eveyone has to think long and hard about what they spend but holidays are still firmly in the family budget," she added.

Almost 50% of respondents said the opportunity to relax on holiday was the most important element of a break. This was deemed more important than food, culture, sunbathing and gaining life experiences.

So far this year ABTA members have reported positive levels of holiday bookings and footfall. Egypt, Turkey and long-haul destinations such as Orlando and cruises are selling well.

ABTA head of communications Casia Zajac said: "Holidays are important to people in different ways but the research is clear that holidays are a vital part of people's year and still will be this year despite the economic downturn."

Travelling to the USA?

Travellers going to the US will need to have completed the new Electronic System for Travel Authorisation as of today.

The new online system is run by the US Department of Homeland Security as part of its Visa Waiver Programme and the authorisation, which it is recommended should be filled out 72 hours before departure, will replace the green slips travellers currently fill out once on their flights.

The registration allows for multiple entries and is valid for up to two years and has been introduced in order to ensure those wishing to visit the US have permission to do so before boarding their flights.

It is hoped the changes will help cut down on wasted journeys for people denied entry upon their arrival to the US.

Virgin add more flights from Manchester and Gatwick

Virgin Atlantic is expanding services from Manchester to Barbados and Orlando. The airline is also adding more flights from Gatwick to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Frequency to Barbados from Manchester will rise to two flights a week with Saturday flights between May 2 and November 7 next year adding to existing Sunday Airbus A340 departures.

There will also be extra seats available between Manchester and Orlando with an additional Sunday departure between Manchester and Orlando will operate between April 26 and November 8, this will give ten flights a week to the Florida holiday destination.

After the launch of a twice-weekly services between Gatwick and Montego Bay, the airline will now be adding a third weekly service on Fridays between Gatwick and Montego Bay will run in winter 2009. The flights will operate between November 13, 2009 and March 19, 2010.

2009 Holiday Sacrifices

With the credit crunch taking hold research by Expedia suggests that rather than not taking a holiday travellors will cut back on the type of trip they take and how they plan to get there.

Brits’ top five ‘holiday sacrifices’ for 2009:

1. The comfort and service of a premium airline, 37% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save £1000.
2. Direct flights,11% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save £1000.
3. Hotel star rating, 33% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save between £500 - £750.
4. Hotel location, 25% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save between £500 - £750.
5. Flying from your nearest airport, 16% prepared to make sacrifice believing they can save between £250 - £500
   

Flight Centre Holiday Pledge

Flight Centre is offering a £100 voucher to any customer who is not 100% happy with their holiday.

The Perfect Holiday Pledge means that if a holiday with the retailer fails to meet or beat expectations, customers can go on another trip with for slightly less money.

Head of marketing Steve Norris said: “The pledge is about ensuring the role that Flight Centre plays – and by default the role of our suppliers – is faultless.

“We pride ourselves on being unbeatable in all areas, whether it’s service, expertise, knowledge or price, and this is our way of proving it to our customers.”

New Version Now Live

The new version of Tripbuster is now live and racking up record visitors and clicks to all of our partners. If you are a travel company and would like to appear on either the Tripbuster.co.uk website or on the weekly newsletter please contact the sales team via the contact us page or email us at info@tripbuster.co.uk.

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Thanksgiving New York Style

The whole of the US celebrates Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) with family gatherings, turkey feasts and American football. In New York City, you can add the fantastic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - the only event where you'll catch the Pink Panther, Spiderman and Woody Woodpecker hanging out together.

For over 75 Years, Macy's has given us a tradition which both celebrates America and calls forth Christmas.

There's still time to get to the Big Apple and experience the event first hand or if the crunch is biting hard log on to http://www.macys.com and get a feel for one of the best days New York has to offer.

Tripbuster Launch Version 2

Tripbuster will be launching version 2 of the their successful travel price comparison site on Tuesday 25th November 2008. Travel companies such as include Virgin, Expedia, Ebookers and Opodo are featured as well as over 150 other travel companies offering great deals on everything from hotels and villas to car hire and travel insurance - and don't forget to look out for 'discount codes' and exclusive offers from our partners.

You'll also be able to find lots of useful travel information such as up to date arrival and departure information, and we'll help you get away with the very latest UK road and rail information .

Sign up for our weekly newsletter which will highlight the very best handpicked travel offers, partner information and exclusive discounts as well as a host of up to the minute travel information - it's your essential travel guide that will save you time and money.

Ryanair throw another toy from the pram

Ryanair has carried out its threat to terminate its hotel supplier contract with Expedia

A statement from Expedia confirmed that Ryanair "turned off Expedia hotel bookings, effective November 14".

It added: "We strongly believe that Ryanair does not have the right to terminate our agreement, and we will continue to vigorously assert Expedia's position in the pending legal proceedings and pursue our claims against Ryanair."

The row between the world's largest online travel agent and arguably the biggest travel web site in Europe dates back to mid-October, when Ryanair announced that it had given "30 days notice to Expedia following Expedia's failure to honour payment terms."

The 'hotels' tab on the homepage, which previously linked through to a Ryanair-branded WWTE page, has been replaced by 'Hostel World', Ryanair's hostel, B&B and guest house partner.