Bookings surge for air-conditioned hotels as families try to escape UK heatwave
Air-conditioned hotels with pools have seen a surge in bookings amid a heatwave as families try to escape record-breaking temperatures scorching the UK.
Searches using the filter for “air conditioning” on Booking.com have tripled across the country since the beginning of June, coinciding with the latest heatwave in Northern Europe.
Data on authorized transactions made through payments company Adyen revealed that the UK hotel sector experienced a 34 per cent increase in revenue between 22-25 June compared to the same period last year. Guard reported
Record-breaking temperatures were felt at Gainsborough Bath Spa in Somerset Independent: “During the heatwave, we had a few guests come to us because they wanted to escape the heat.
The hotel, which has a pool and air conditioning, added: “We are a very touristic destination, there are many Airbnbs with registered building status in the area. Many of our American friends who traveled here found that their Airbnbs actually had no air conditioning when they arrived, so we booked quite a few rooms accordingly.”
The record for the hottest ever June day was broken for the third day in a row on Friday, when temperatures reached 37.3C at Santon Downham in Suffolk.
A rare red alert for extreme heat in parts of England was lifted yesterday after days of intense weather that saw Britons head indoors to escape the sunlight.
Searches by British guests for accommodation in the UK have increased by more than 11 per cent year-on-year, Airbnb said.
Dean Culpan, general manager of London hotel Templeton Garden, said: Guard: “With the heatwave in full swing, we have seen a noticeable increase in demand throughout the hotel and are now operating at capacity. Guests are increasingly looking for cool and comfortable spaces to relax, work remotely and escape the city heat, whether in our air-conditioned interiors or in our private garden, which becomes a real oasis in hot weather.
“As temperatures rise across London, we have also seen a significant increase in terrace dining and drinking, with these cool, shaded areas becoming one of the most sought-after areas of the hotel.”
Huge queues could form outside supermarkets on Thursday as Britons try to get their hands on discounted air conditioners.
Electric fans accounted for 17 percent of online sales from Tuesday through Thursday this week, up from about 2 percent, Lakeland said.
The home goods retailer said sales of electric fans were up 600 percent week over week from Tuesday to Thursday.
