A good year for UK self catering holidays.

The continuing economic struggle with its loss of high street brands and reports of struggling tour operators and travel agents, may well drive more people to holiday in the UK. Uncertainty with the Euro and perceived instability of Eurozone countries may compound this further.  Bad news for the high street, but good news for owners of self catering holiday properties.  Various reports in 2011 have suggested that more people will opt for a holiday or short break in the UK during 2012 rather than a foreign trip.  Again, very good news for the self catering market.

Last minute bookings are here to stay.

Whilst some families are still fortunate enough to be able to plan and budget for their summer holiday in advance, more and more are likely to ‘wait and see’. This could see the current split between advanced bookings and last minute bookings increasing further. However, the ‘last minute’ mentality could well result in disappointment amongst holiday makers as holiday cottages start to get booked up. To counter this, holiday makers appear to send several enquiries out for properties that they like the look of, with the booking going to the owner who is the quickest to respond. So, for us owners, it’s a case of ‘the early bird catches the worm’.

Customers will expect a discount…

Driven partly by heavily discounted foreign holidays and hotel stays, customers will expect price reductions for self catering holiday cottages. Often, as cottage owners, we are unable to offer discounts, so owners will do well to be prepared to sell the benefits of their property and justify why the guest is in fact getting good value for money. Most holiday makers, although impacted by high fuel prices and cost of living, won’t realise the costs incurred by owners.

Moreover holidays will be taken on a budget, and this could well see a change in behaviour. For example, in order to manage costs, self catering holiday makers are likely to favour cooking and eating in more, so make sure that their needs are catered for and that the kitchen is well equipped, including cookbooks and information on where to buy local produce. Providing information and ideas about inexpensive days out locally will be appreciated too, as will the odd takeaway menu!

… but they won’t compromise on quality or facilities.

Self-caterers, more and more, are expecting to stay in a ‘home from home’. Facilities such as DVD players, widescreen TVs and broadband are no longer differentiators; they are expected as the norm. During 2011, we personally saw an increase in people working whilst on holiday (a ‘workation’ if you like).  Many businesses encourage working from home, and it seems that some holiday makers extend weekend breaks with the view to spending one or two days in front of the laptop. Obviously, these customers need fast and reliable broadband to keep in touch with customers and colleagues. Ensuring potential guests know about mobile phone coverage too may also help attract these customers. Other facilities such as satellite TV or a selection of games will help keep the kids amused whilst mum or dad is on the phone to the office! Mention of local WIFI hotspots and coffee shops might well be a happy compromise if you don’t have broadband.

In 2012 it will be even more important to sell the benefits of your property and / or location, especially if your property is in a remote part of the UK where fuel costs might be a consideration. Up-to-date facilities, clear information about the property and the local area plus clear, large photo’s will help you stand out from the competition.

The 2012 Olympics – An ‘equal’ opportunity for all.

Obviously, locations close to Olympic events should benefit from bookings during the Olympics (27 July-12 Aug 2012) and Paralympics (29 Aug-9 Sept 2012).  But the Olympics are only just over 2 weeks in duration with the Paralympics less than that. So the window of opportunity is smaller than many might think. Also, there are likely to be as many people wanting to avoid the Olympics as there are people actively seeking accommodation to watch their event. Many non-supporters may well avoid the period entirely or seek out areas of the country not hosting any events. So if you’re not located near an Olympic venue, fear not. And in any case, most people are likely to watch the Olympics on TV and you can do that from anywhere.