Holiday lets agency gives insight into frantic summer business

New research predicts a record year for holiday home owners in the UK with more people than ever planning to staycation this summer.

According to Sykes Holiday Cottages, 77 per cent of Britons will holiday in the UK in 2022 following cancelled flights and airport chaos.

The holiday cottage rental agency has seen summer bookings increase by 26 per cent over the past four weeks, compared with the same period last year. Bookings made to date this year for travel in 2022 are up by 30 per cent year-on-year.

Polzeath and Rock in Cornwall and Hurst Green in Lancashire are the fastest-growing destinations for bookings this summer. When it comes to the most popular regions overall, North Wales has remained in the top spot for the second year in a row, with Cornwall and the Lake District in second and third respectively.

The agency says that after uncertainty around foreign travel, budget pressures was the reason most cited by Britons for choosing a staycation. Over a third say they will holiday at home this year because of squeezed family finances.

In terms of domestic travel trends, the report reveals that demand for glamping accommodation, including shepherds’ huts and yurts, is up by 46 per cent on 2021 and 94 per cent versus 2019. And following pet ownership skyrocketing during the pandemic, a third of 2022 bookings to date include dogs.

The top three things influencing choice of staycation accommodation are whether properties have gardens or outside space; the quality of the WiFi; and the proximity to the beach. Hot tub holidays are also in high demand, as Sykes has seen a 36 per cent increase in bookings to properties that have them versus 2021.

Graham Donoghue, Sykes chief executive, says: “The shift towards staycations had already begun pre-Covid, but our latest research proves that it is still showing no signs of slowing in this post-pandemic world.

“Uncertainty around Covid restrictions has seemingly been replaced with another worry – overseas travel disruption – which has encouraged some to reconsider their plans and our last-minute bookings for this summer have increased as a result.

“We thought 2021 would be a hard year to surpass, but we’re expecting more Britons than ever to stay closer to home this year. As well as uncertainty, increased pressure on household budgets is leading to many turning to staycations as the better value option, with tourism economies across the UK expected to receive a boost.”