A BOURNEMOUTH-based holiday firm is seeing a “staggering” and record-breaking month for sales this August despite there still being two weeks left. 

Mid-August figures reveal the holiday firm Not Just Travel is already up 25 per cent year-on-year on sales and bookings. 

Holidaymakers are also spending more on next year’s holidays with the firm as the average booking value is up around £607 per booking. 

Nearly half of bookings are for last-minute holidays (46 per cent), 31 per cent is for winter 2023/24 and 81 per cent of bookings are for adult-only holidays. 

Co-founder Steve Witt, based at the company's headquarters near Bournemouth Airport, said: “This month so far we’ve paid more commission to our travel consultants than ever before.  

“Sales are simply staggering. 

“August is traditionally a slow month in terms of holiday bookings but many of our consultants have been busier than ever.” 

Not Just Travel has enjoyed record-breaking months for both holiday sales and travel franchisee recruitment as people capitalise on the travel boom and train as homeworking travel consultants. 

Every month since August 2022 has broken previous sales records, the company says. 

The homeworking travel company is recruiting at its fastest ever pace - with a new franchisee joining almost every working day since March - most with no prior experience in travel. 

Ellen Scott, partner at PwC consulting business Strategy&, said: “Travel is a priority and demand is stronger than people could have hoped early in the year.  

“The premium end of the market is going strongly and travel demand is particularly strong among those aged 55 and over – the group most positive about household finances.” 

In the first week of August, husband and wife consultants Colman and Rachael Coyne sold seven cruises. At the beginning of the month, agent Paula Warden booked six cruises in just one day. 

Franchisee Lloydie Gardiner has already taken over 29 bookings worth £127,000 in total, many package holidays for 2024. 

Big bookings continue to be commonplace while group bookings appear to be a growing trend.  

David Walker made a single £105,000 booking to Bermuda this week plus £60,000 flight-only bookings for 40 people over the weekend.