An increasing number of travelers are booking their outdoor vacations online. This indication comes from the monthly barometer by Septeo Hospitality (formerly Sequoiasoft), the software publisher for the hotel, restaurant, and outdoor hospitality sectors. According to the study – which is based on a selection of 1,000 French establishments equipped with the eSeason Resa Internet booking system – February saw an 8% increase in Internet booking volume and a 5% increase in revenue compared to February 2023, with an average expenditure of €1,001.
French customers accounted for 75% of bookings in February 2024, followed by Dutch (6%) and German (5%) customers. Bookings are mainly for rental accommodations (83%), while pitches represent 17%. The departments of Hérault, Vendée, and Landes are on the top list of the most booked destinations.
Focus on the season
Looking at the period from October 1st, 2023 to February 29th, 2024, it can be seen that the growth in online bookings is even more significant, at +19%, and sales are up 20% compared to the same period last season. The average expenditure for rentals is also slightly up (+1.8%), compared to the 2023 season, at €1,229, while for pitches the trend is downwards, at €581 compared to €593 for the 2023 season (-2.1%).
As for the length of stay, rental accommodations remained almost unchanged at 8.12 days (-0.6%), while pitches experienced a significant decrease to 8.91 days compared to 9.45 days in 2023 (-5.8%). The most popular period for outdoor vacations remains August, with 25% of bookings, while July is down compared to bookings recorded in February 2023. Thanks to the upcoming holidays in May, this month is experiencing growth, with 15% more than the annual volume recorded last year.
