Multi award-winning Cofton Holidays, near Dawlish Warren in South Devon, has reported record demand for off-peak holidays following a near sell-out of its summer school holiday accommodation, which is already 91.9% booked.
Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that self-catering accommodation can open from 12th April 2021 in England, Cofton saw a staggering rise in its average weekly bookings, skyrocketing by 397%.
While much of the demand was for the school holidays, the holiday park, which offers cottages, apartments, lodges, holiday homes, caravan and camping facilities, saw a huge swing to off-peak holidays, with the period following Easter through to 21 May hitting an all-time high. In a matter of hours, 48% of all available accommodation had been snapped up, surpassing the year-end total for the same period in 2019, with ten weeks’ worth of bookings still to come.
The seismic shift to off-peak periods has led to a 318% increase in out of season bookings compared to the same point in 2019, much of which has been driven by couples not wishing to miss out on holidays in 2021; their bookings have ballooned by 391%.
Off-peak bookings among families with pre-school children have also risen dramatically, up 30% compared to 2019.
Chris Jeffery, Director at Cofton Holidays, commented: “Having seen an incredible surge in bookings across the board following the Prime Minister’s update, we are now witnessing off-peak bookings like never before.
“The off-peak periods are usually quieter for us as many families need to book their holidays within the school holidays. Couples and families with toddlers who haven’t been able to book a holiday in late July and August and are concerned about travelling abroad are now flooding to the shoulder periods, when prices are lower and choice is better. Our record post-Easter bookings are a taste of things to come as we all finally come out of lockdown.”
Looking forward to what guests can expect on their visit to Cofton Holidays, Helen Scott, Director, added: “During lockdown we’ve enhanced our beautiful landscape, rewilding large swathes of the park, introducing new shrubbery, creating wildlife corridors and enhancing biodiversity across the site for insects, birds, bats, butterflies, bees and small mammals. We’ve also installed 16 new electric car charging points for guests and visitors; all part of our commitment to creating a better environment for all. We can’t wait to show off the new additions and look forward to welcoming back our lovely guests in April.”
With over 80 acres of exclusive parkland located amongst five stunning lakes, Cofton Holidays offers a variety of year-round accommodation options including luxury lodges with hot tubs, cottages, apartments, holiday homes, and a campsite. Facilities at the park include four dining options, a pub, a heated indoor pool, a fully equipped gym, sauna and steam rooms, a games zone, an entertainment programme for children and adults, an amusement arcade, and outdoor and indoor play areas, including a woodland zip line.
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