Barrhead Travel bucks trend as bookings up 9%

Holiday firm Barrhead Travel is on track to grow revenues by 30 per cent to £130 million this year thanks to a surge in summer bookings.

The Glasgow-based travel group recorded a 19 per cent increase in bookings this summer compared to 2010. It has also confirmed a high number of early bookings for summer 2012.

Barrhead’s performance bucks the UK trend, with recent figures from the Office for National Statistics indicating holiday sales have increased by just 1 per cent.

Sharon Munro, Barrhead’s chief executive, said the company had diversified its business model to meet changing demands.

Recent research also suggests that many British holidaymakers are shunning the myriad choices offered by the internet and returning to travel agents to book their getaways.

“Although around 40 per cent of Barrhead Travel’s bookings now come from our websites, we know that many people find the internet daunting,” added Munro.

“While there is still demand for the traditional package holiday, the market is more segmented than it was a few years ago.”

She said Barrhead was investing in further diversifying its offering, underpinning its growth.