Inteletravel says it has seen a 28% increase in bookings in the UK so far this year, with just over £20m taken in the seven months to the end of July, a 52% rise year-on-year.

During the pandemic, the homeworking group has signed up 40% more agents, boosting its overall number in the UK to around 10,500.

It says the average value of each booking from January to July was up 26% year-on-year to £1,069, but this was less than the £1,630 it reported in February.

It blamed the slip on a shift to staycations, which have a lower booking value than foreign holidays. Some 93% of its 2021 bookings were for the UK, due largely to the ongoing travel restrictions it said, while 40% of clients have booked for 2022 and beyond.

Many of its customers have booked multiple holidays, with 24% travelling to Europe, 10% long-haul and 9% booking cruises.

Inteletravel said 40% had spent ‘up to’ 25% more than last year, while 7% had spent ‘up to’ 50% more.