House Of Travel Bucks Downward Trend

House Of Travel Bucks Downward Trend In Uk & Europe Holidays

House of Travel has shown a significant rise in UK and Europe departures for the month of September, despite recent statistics showing a drop in departures.

Market data company Asmal yesterday released figures for the month of September, showing a decline in the number of New Zealand residents travelling to Europe, compared with September 2005. By "countries of main destination", travel to the United Kingdom declined by 7% and travel to Europe for "holiday" reasons fell by 12%.

However House of Travel has bucked the downward trend and shows a 20% increase in departures to Europe for the month of September 2006.

House of Travel retail operations director Brent Thomas says this is due to a number of contributing factors.

"Despite a number of issues, such as the foiled terrorist plot in the United Kingdom earlier this year, Kiwis are very resilient travellers and are not easily put off. Combined with a strong Kiwi dollar and a high employment level, we are finding that many New Zealanders see the UK and Europe as a more affordable and attainable destination than ever before."

House of Travel's 2005 UK and Europe campaign offered customers a wider choice of deals as well as a chance to register early for these deals and many customers would have booked last year for their departures in 2006. Mr Thomas says the Group has adopted the same approach this year and sales are looking great for 2007 departures.

The House of Travel Group has forecasted turnover in 2006 in excess of $700m, it has 90 retail outlets (with specialist corporate and leisure travel outlets) throughout New Zealand, its own award winning aggregated booking website www.houseoftravel.co.nz and two wholesale companies (both inbound and outbound). It employs in excess of 1,100 people and is privately owned (by New Zealander Chris Paulsen) and operated since it was established in 1987.

ENDS

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