Holidaymakers stand to benefit from a favourable combination of market conditions in the run up to the peak holiday season according to one of the UK's leading independent tour operators. Nick Munday, managing director of Sussex-based luxury tour operator Classic Collection Holidays, points out that the early season boom, predicted by many hoteliers in the Western Mediterranean, has failed to materialise, meaning that prospective holiday-makers are in an excellent position to benefit from a windfall of late availability at competitive prices especially throughout May, June and early July.

'Following on from very strong sales last year, many hoteliers in the Western Med were bullish that they would hit the jackpot again this summer,' comments Munday 'and this encouraged a commercially aggressive policy of keeping their bed-stock off sale during January and February, historically the peak summer sales period, in the hope of realising higher prices later on.  However, the British outbound market has not performed as they anticipated and hoteliers are now relenting.' To back this up, Nick Munday points out that during April his company saw a massive increase over last year of more than 50% additional special offers delivered from hoteliers for the summer season.

'Similarly, airlines who have positioned more aircraft to service routes from the UK to the Western Med have been left with overcapacity this summer, leading to some remarkably good value flight prices.' Munday comments 'it's a long time since we've seen flight prices as low as this for travel during May, June and early July.'

'In addition, European holidays are now once again becoming more affordable due to a strengthening pound with sterling having moved from 1.14 against the euro in early March towards a rate of 1.18 today.'

'All in all, this favourable combination of market conditions makes holidays in the Western Mediterranean a tempting customer proposition for this summer, especially during May, June and early July,' concluded Munday, who has already geared up his company for a very busy early season.

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For further information andrew.farr@classic-collection.co.uk