Holiday Extras, a travel ancillaries provider, is urging the government to establish a comprehensive, long-term plan for migrant accommodations. The call comes in response to a significant portion of airport hotel rooms being indefinitely booked, impacting both the availability and affordability of pre-flight stays for travelers.
As per Holiday Extras, more than 10,000 rooms, equivalent to over 24% of the usual capacity, are currently reserved indefinitely. This approach, the company argues, imposes unnecessary costs and strains on the airport hotel sector.
Matthew Pack, CEO of Holiday Extras, emphasized the challenges posed by this situation, stating, “Millions of UK holidaymakers every year need an airport hotel before they fly, either because they live a long way from the airport or are flying early in the morning.”
Highlighting the competitive landscape, Pack added, “We can’t compete with government block-booking contracts, so we’re being crowded out of our core market.”
Holiday Extras, known for providing airport hotel stays for millions of customers, notes that this short-term solution, initiated during the travel lockdown, has persisted for over three years.
The shortage of rooms is particularly pronounced in the southeast, leading to substantial price hikes. For instance, a budget hotel room at Gatwick has seen a staggering 75% increase since 2019. Pack contends that such a situation is “simply not sustainable.”
Calling for government intervention, Pack stressed, “The government needs to agree on a proper long-term solution that is fair and humane.”
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