WHILE dealing in allocation block bookings can often deliver lucrative returns from large scale capitalisation in peak holiday season bookings, there is a high risk should the projected bookings not materialize – enter COVID-19 crisis.
Tour operators say that while airlines and hotels have been flexible and helpful when it comes to postponing Easter allocations to Mauritius, there is less certainty about how the June / July booking allocations will play out.
Ceo of Thompsons Holidays, Joanne Adolphe, says Easter holiday bookings fell within most airlines initial COVID-19 policies and that most airlines applied the same lenient terms and conditions to bookings made under allocation. “There is a lot more uncertainty regarding June / July allocations. We were still taking bookings for this period but Mauritius has a complete lockdown in place so whether these bookings will go ahead will depend on the Mauritian policies.”
“All of our Easter bookings have been moved out but June / July is up in the air and will depend on the persistence of the virus and whether South African schools adjust their calendars post lockdown, says md of World Leisure Holidays, Ramesh Jeenarain.
The hotels we work with have allowed clients to postpone their trips up until now. It has been a little more difficult dealing with airlines that have all implemented different policies, but we feel that they have been as accommodating as they can be under the circumstances,” he says.
Sales director of Holiday Factory, Matthew Fubbs, says: “I believe the airlines and hotels will continue to work with us and remain flexible during this period as they will need to retain the revenue and the clients when borders reopen,” said Matthew.
Joanne Visagie, sale and marketing director of Beachcomber Tours, says most Easter booking travel dates have been amended to September and December.
Airlines contacted by eTNW did not respond to questions around June / July allocations. Air Mauritius said the contracts in place were confidential and that the airline was in contact with its trade partners on a daily basis.
