Travel news latest: Last-minute cancellation chaos feared as Britons double-book their holidays

British holidaymakers have taken to double-booking in order to secure both a UK and an overseas trip, according to new data, prompting fears of mass cancellations when travel recommences.

“Many holidaymakers have booked both a foreign holiday and a UK stay and our data shows they’re often holding on to both,” says Michael De Jongh, Chief Commercial Officer from hotel technology provider Avvio.

“If they decide at the last minute to risk a holiday abroad, a late rush of cancellations in the UK would create chaos across the whole industry as hotels scramble to fill their suddenly vacant rooms. Many of these just won’t be filled, resulting in tens of millions of pounds in lost revenue.”

He added: “It’s not just about holidaymakers booking both a stay abroad and one in the UK. There’s also a growing trend of booking rooms at multiple UK hotels, with a view to cancelling all but one at the last minute. This causes incredible problems for hotels, in the same way as multiple restaurant bookings did during Eat Out To Help Out.”

Consumer confidence in travel has never been lower, thanks in part to frequent last-minute changes to the travel corridors last year. Going forward, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the Government “would flag perhaps a couple of weeks in advance” if a country could change category under the “traffic light” system for the resumption of overseas travel.

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8:38AM

‘No evidence’ of staycation boom for Scotland’s crisis-hit tourism industry

Scotland’s crisis-hit tourism industry is facing a prolonged downturn with an “extremely slow” start to accommodation bookings following lockdown and no evidence of a summer ‘staycation’ boom, according to new research.

The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) survey found 30 per cent of businesses remained closed when restrictions started to be eased on April 26, allowing hospitality to reopen with limited hours and no alcohol service indoors.

Of this group, 31 per cent plan to remain closed when lockdown is eased further on Monday with longer opening hours and alcohol permitted inside.

The reseach also surveyed accommodation providers, with nearly half stating that their occupancy rates are below 20 per cent for May, June and July.

Simon Johnson reports.

8:15AM

Covid test comparison website to end confusion for holidaymakers

A GoCompare-style website for travel testing is to be launched by the Government to end the chaos for holidaymakers – as a test provider exposed by The Telegraph was ditched from the official list.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is set to unveil the new gov.uk website within days to provide holidaymakers with clear information on the cheapest, quickest and most efficient Covid test companies.

His department also wants the site to have customer review scores for each test provider – similar to the ratings for restaurants, bars and hotels – so holidaymakers can be given advance warning of poor service.

It has already removed three providers – 001Doctor.uk, Now Test and Latus Health – from the current Government site following complaints from travellers and has issued warnings to a further handful.

Charles Hymas has the story.

7:52AM