Last week the United Kingdom received the news it had been waiting for as to when life could go back to something close to normal.
The rules and regulations are different in each of the four nations that comprise the U.K., but largely they are all moving in the same direction — although not as fast as hoped for in some industries, including hotels.
As of April 12, self-contained vacation accommodations can start booking guests again.
That means holiday caravans and self-catering cottages, for example, where one family unit can occupy a space, but there are no others.
I had booked a long weekend in a country cottage with a restaurant that has two rooms. My booking was for the first bank holiday weekend in May, but as accommodations with more than one unit in the same space cannot reopen until May 17, that trip has now been canceled.
The owners of the place called me the morning after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement to rebook me for the second bank holiday of May, which is at the end of the month.
There does seem to be some relief at the reopening news, which is always conditional on COVID-19 cases being down, as they have been in the past month. Hoteliers, however, remain understandably frustrated.
I think many feel they have done everything asked of them in terms of cleanliness, safety protocol and communication, and now are being unfairly treated.
But for self-catering accommodations and options such as Airbnb, where there is only one lodging option and the host does not also live on-site, the booking window is now open.
The government is requesting people not to rush to book.
Yeah, sure, good luck with that!
It’s a competitive world, everything counts in large amounts — as Depeche Mode once sang — and there have been reports of a 500% to 1,000% increase in bookings as people understandably want to feel alive, normal and fulfilled.
As soon as the first bands of Brits started receiving their vaccinations, vacation bookings have been on the rise, even if booked after consultation on cancellation policies.
Since last Monday, calls to travel agents and accommodations have been fast and furious. Wedding planners also have said business is booming again.
This is all indicative of the expected boon in travel that might end in record numbers — although the pain now and for the next month or so will remain acute, and there will be some accommodations that simply do not make it.
The new rules in England state that restaurants and pubs — and I assume they include those that are part of hotels — starting April 12 will be able to serve in outdoor settings and to groups of up to six people from multiple households or of any number from two households.
Then on May 17, smaller parties can move indoors, while outdoors groups of up to 30 can gather.
Then on June 21, everything will go back to the way it was in the dawn of time, fingers crossed.
I have planned a week’s birdwatching on the Isles of Scilly in October, and that was booked months ago.
Birdwatching in October during autumn migration — with its chance of unveiling some rare Asian and American rarities to British soil — is ultra-competitive anyway. Getting a place to stay can be difficult on a small group of islands where nearly every visitor must arrive on a once-a-day ferry to the main island, St. Mary’s.
Usually, accommodations sell out the year before as people staying there simply rebook the same week for next year.
Staycations are set to dominate the U.K. in 2021 as this is the option we can see now, not in two months’ time. No word has been given on international travel, or inbound travel, but no doubt much has been booked.
People are so anxious to get away it is worth the risk of paying for insurance or losing a little of the upfront vacation cost.
Hotels will experience a huge rebound, according to most insiders, but I wonder if guests will feel they can get what they can now and just give up the chance of visiting a major city at least until 2022?
I have also heard of people saying that if they are going away for a long weekend, then they will also book a Friday night at some roadside economy hotel so they can be already in their chosen destination at the very first minute of their break.
Competition is good, I guess.
Just make sure this demand books direct!
Feel free to contact me anytime at tbaker@hotelnewsnow.com. Find me on Twitter at @terencebakerhnn and on LinkedIn.
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