25 Aug 2020
Media Release
Last minute stays may become a new norm for Australia’s travel industry, with COVID-19 uncertainty meaning the lead time for accommodation bookings has halved.
Australia’s largest regional accommodation provider, the G’DAY Group, has released statistics showing an average booking lead time reduction from 24 days, to just 10.5 days.*
CEO of G’DAY Group, Grant Wilckens, says that the changing traveller behaviour means tourism businesses need to be particularly nimble.
“COVID-19 has us operating in a very different world. The newest challenge to become apparent, is that operators need to be able to scale their operations up quickly due to last minute demand,” said Grant.
“For now at least, the days of being able to plan staffing and other operations based on occupancy a month or so ahead are gone. This window is now around 10 days, and operators need to be more agile than ever before.”
Travellers are also seeking increasingly flexible booking policies, with SiteMinder’s Changing Traveller Report showing that 32% of Australians now rank the ability to cancel or modify bookings as the most important factor when choosing their accommodation compared to prior to COVID-19.
“For the best chance of recovery, tourism businesses need to recognise that many people are nervous to book because travel restrictions can change at any time. We need to make booking risk free, and offer flexibility if plans change,” said Grant.
Recognising these trends, Discovery Holiday Parks has launched a “Say G’DAY to Freedom”, allowing guests to book and pay zero deposit. Payment isn’t required until 48 hours prior to arrival at over 60 locations across Australia.
For more information visit: https://www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/special_offers
Ends
*Comparison of May-July 2020, compared to May – July 2019.
For more information contact Jessica Playford jplayford@discoveryparks.com.au on 0478 346 504
Headquartered in Adelaide, South Australia, and majority owned by Sunsuper, G’DAY Group Holdings owns the Discovery Holiday Parks network of parks and the Top Parks brand of family-owned parks.
With more than 280 parks distributed across the outback, water front and national parks, this forms Australia’s largest network of holiday parks, with an industry-leading rewards program: G’DAY Rewards.
For more information on Discovery Parks, please visit: www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au
