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Best Western Hotels & Resorts: A Summer Fueled by Last-Minute Bookings

September 3, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Best Western Hotels & Resorts dresse le bilan des tendances de l'été 2026 - DepositPhotos.com, dvoevnore

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The Best Western Hotels & Resorts group presents the initial activity trends for its French network for the summer season 2026.

A summer marked by last-minute bookings and the direct impact of high temperatures on the choice of stays.

While July recorded a more moderate start, the remainder of the season remains highly evolving under the influence of the “last minute” phenomenon.

In this context, The PACA region stands out as the network’s most dynamic destination, while the search for milder temperatures redirects a portion of flows toward Brittany, Normandy, Hauts-de-France and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Des trajectoires régionales contrastées selon les marchés

The analysis of network performance highlights highly heterogeneous results depending on geographic areas.

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region remains the season’s main engine with a 6.6% rise in its gross revenue between July and September compared with the previous year.

On its side, after a hesitant start in July, Brittany records a 1.5% increase in August and September, benefiting from a shifting clientele seeking cooler temperatures, while Corsica maintains a stable attendance level despite higher tariffs.

By contrast, Île-de-France experiences more moderate activity, suffering the usual slowdown of summer business tourism and the disinterest of travelers in metropolises during heatwave episodes.

L’adaptation des infrastructures face aux fortes chaleurs

The surge of summer heat waves has become a decisive factor in choosing accommodations.

The hotel group indicates that more than 80% of its properties in France are equipped with air conditioning systems, which has driven a significant spike in bookings at these hotels during recent heat waves.

This infrastructure now welcomes both leisure travelers and teleworkers thanks to the deployment of their shared work spaces, myWO.

TUI France: Last-Minute Bookings Up 20% This Summer

September 2, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

TUI France observe un regain des réservations de dernière minute - Depositphotos.com @HJBC

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While the French remain largely inclined toward advance bookings, last-minute departures are on the rise this summer.

TUI France indicates that bookings made in the 31 days preceding departure for the Clubs Lookéa and Marmara have increased by 20 % compared with summer 2025.

According to the tour operator, this trend reflects heightened traveler interest in last-minute offers, without undermining the habit of planning ahead. In total, 74 % of customers still reserve their holidays three to nine months before departure.

More precisely, 46 % book their reservation three to six months in advance, 25 % between six and nine months, while 3 % reserve more than nine months ahead of their stay. Conversely, 20 % book between one and three months before departure and 6 % only in the month preceding their vacation.

In a press release, Christophe Fuss, CEO of TUI France, states that “last-minute is gaining ground this year but it does not replace anticipation“, noting a growing demand for flexibility and good deals, especially for seaside destinations and club stays.

A last-minute traveler who most often travels as a couple

According to data released by TUI France, last-minute travelers predominantly go with a companion. Couples account for 60 % of bookings, ahead of families at 35 %, while solo travelers constitute only 5 %.

Mediterranean destinations remain the most sought-after for this booking pattern. Greece tops the list, followed by Italy and Tunisia. Among the most requested properties are the Marmara Doreta Beach Club in Rhodes, the Marmara Sicilia in Sicily, and the Lookéa Playa Djerba Club in Tunisia.

On theNouvelles Frontières itineraries side, reservations made one month prior are also rising. Itineraries to Iceland, Canada, and Portugal feature among the most in demand. For the TUI Sélection range, the Balearics, Crete, and Morocco remain the favored destinations for last-minute vacationers.

Finally, despite the growth of online bookings, the physical distribution network remains important. According to TUI France, 22 % of last-minute travelers book through one of the more than 200 TUI Stores across France.

Written by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com journalist
See all articles by Amelia Brille

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Summer 2026: TUI Group Sees Strong Last-Minute Booking Surge

July 26, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Été 2026 : TUI Group observe une forte poussée des réservations de dernière minute - Depositphotos.com Auteur T.Schneider

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TUI Group published improving half-year results despite a backdrop marked by conflicts in the Middle East and an unstable economic environment. The group reports an underlying EBIT of -111 million euros for the first half of 2026, representing an improvement of 45 million euros versus the previous year.

In the second quarter, traditionally loss-making for the tourism sector, the underlying EBIT stood at -188 million euros, up 19 million euros from last year, despite exceptional charges of 45 million euros largely tied to the war in Iran and Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

For the first half of the fiscal year, closing on March 31, revenue declined by 14%, to 8.6 billion euros. At constant exchange rates, it rose by 1.3%.

Over the first six months of the period, 12.8 million customers traveled with TUI, i.e., 200,000 more than a year earlier. The group also highlights the continued strong trend toward last-minute bookings for summer 2026, notably to Western Mediterranean destinations such as Spain, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and Greece.

“TUI has posted growth in its operating profit for the fourteenth consecutive quarter. This demonstrates the Group’s steady development,” stated Sebastian Ebel, the Group CEO. The executive also noted that “geopolitical challenges and the unstable economic environment” require “considerable commitment and flexibility.”

TUI confirms the revised outlook in April for fiscal 2026

The “Holiday Experiences” segment, which encompasses hotels, cruises and leisure activities, remains one of the group’s main performance drivers. Cruises are showing strong demand, with half-year underlying EBIT up 25.9% to €163.5 million. Despite the impact of the Iranian conflict, ship occupancy remains high at 93%.

TUI also highlights the acceleration of its digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence into its activities. “We view artificial intelligence as an opportunity for the travel and tourism sector,” explains Sebastian Ebel, referring in particular to collaborations with Google and OpenAI through AI features integrated into the group’s app.

Despite this volatile context, TUI confirms the revised outlook in April for the 2026 fiscal year. The group now expects underlying EBIT to range between €1.1 and €1.4 billion, while temporarily suspending its revenue guidance.

Campervan Rental: Why Roadsurfer Is the Ideal Last-Minute Road Trip Solution

June 14, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

What if the best trips were ultimately those we hadn’t really planned? As spring’s long weekends approach and summer holidays loom, more and more travelers are ditching ultra-planned stays in favor of more spontaneous getaways. This is where renting a converted van, or a motorhome, emerges as the ideal solution for vacationers seeking freedom, flexibility and adventure.

In this rapidly expanding world of nomadic travel, roadsurfer has established itself as the global leader in van-based journeys. Founded in 2016 in Munich, the company now counts over 10,000 vehicles distributed across nearly 100 agencies in 16 countries. Compact vans, converted campervans, or family motorhomes: the brand offers a modern, fully equipped fleet designed to simplify last-minute departures. With unlimited kilometers and a spontaneity-driven approach, roadsurfer presents a new way of traveling, where the destination matters less than the freedom to hit the road whenever the urge arises.

The spontaneous road trip for travellers seeking freedom

Setting off without a fixed program, adjusting the route according to the weather, or extending a stop by the ocean: the road trip answers a growing desire for flexibility. In recent years, travel has transformed. Holidaymakers now seek freer experiences that can adapt to their momentary wishes.
Renting a converted van fits perfectly with this trend. In just a few clicks, you can book a equipped vehicle and hit the road a few hours later. An ideal solution for off-the-cly weekend getaways as well as last-minute summer holidays.

roadsurfer has precisely built its offering around this spontaneity. The brand relies on recent, comfortable and fully equipped vehicles, with unlimited kilometers to travel without constraint. Compact vans for a duo getaway, converted vans for several weeks on European roads, or family motorhomes — each traveler profile can find the model suited to their adventure.

To simplify organization even further, the platform also offers detailed practical sheets to help travelers choose the vehicle that matches their project. A surfing weekend on the Basque coast, a crossing of the Alps, or an improvised loop through Tuscany do not require the same needs. roadsurfer thus turns motorhome rental into a simple, fluid, and immediately accessible experience.

Offices across France and Europe for last-minute departures

One of roadsurfer’s major advantages lies in its wide network of agencies, designed to facilitate spontaneous departures. In France, travellers can pick up their vehicle near major cities and airports: Paris, Lyon, Aix-Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Lille, Nice or Strasbourg are among the main starting bases. The Geneva agency, located in the Pays de Gex, also makes a quick escape to Switzerland or the Italian Alps feasible.

This strategic presence greatly simplifies last-minute departures. Quick spell of good weather forecast ahead? A long weekend on the horizon? It is enough to book a vehicle and head toward the destination of choice.
All of Europe becomes a playable field. Thanks to the numerous roadsurfer agencies across the continent, travelers can easily imagine a road trip spanning several countries: along the Portuguese coast, exploring the Scandinavian fjords, crossing the Dolomites, or sleeping by Croatian lakes. This improvisational freedom is now one of the main attractions of renting a converted van.

roadsurfer spots: the platform that makes spontaneous wandering easier

To improvise a road trip also means being able to easily find where to sleep. It is precisely to answer this new way of traveling that roadsurfer developed roadsurfer spots, a platform for booking unusual sites across Europe.
The concept is increasingly appealing to nomadic travel enthusiasts: spontaneously booking a unique spot at a farm, a winery, a natural space, or with a private individual, often close to preserved landscapes. Available notably in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, the platform makes it easy to combine itinerancy and lodging without having to plan every step weeks in advance.

This approach reinforces the sense of freedom that accompanies motorhome rental and van rental. A sunset facing the Atlantic, a night amid Italian vineyards, or a wake-up in front of Austrian mountains can now be improvised on the fly of the journey.

More than just a vehicle rental company, roadsurfer thus positions itself as a true facilitator of spontaneous travel. A brand capable of turning a last-minute urge for escape into an immediate adventure, with this promise that has become rare: the ability to still depart without planning every detail, simply because the road calls.

With the GEO12 code, enjoy 12% off any booking for 2026 or 2027 (minimum 3 nights). Offer valid from May 5 to June 8, 2026.

Sponsored article by Roadsurfer. The editorial team did not participate in the production of this article.

Assurever Launches Ready2go: A Tool to Boost Last-Minute Sales

June 8, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Assurever strengthens its support for last-minute sales with Ready2go

Booking patterns are evolving, and tourism professionals observe this daily in the field. In a context marked in recent months by geopolitical uncertainties, notably due to the war in the Middle East, many travelers prefer to wait before confirming their plans.

For travel agencies and tour operators, this will translate into an acceleration of bookings as departures near, with sales concentrated in the final weeks before the trip.

Ready2go, a concrete response to market needs

Listening to its partners and faithful to its commitment to accompany sector evolutions, Assurever launches Ready2go, a solution specifically designed to address the challenges of last-minute bookings.

Designed to support last-minute sales, Ready2go enables travel agencies and tour operators to offer their travelers a more competitive insurance option for bookings made within less than 30 days of departure, while guaranteeing them optimal coverage.

Thanks to its particularly attractive pricing positioning, the offering also represents a genuine commercial lever for distributors, allowing them to strengthen the appeal of their last-minute sales while generating higher margins on these cases.

A more competitive offer without compromises on guarantees

In a context where price remains an important decision criterion for travelers, Assurever enables its partners to offer a particularly attractive solution.

The offer benefits from pricing that can be up to nearly 30% lower than traditional offers, while maintaining an equivalent level of guarantees.

Ready2go includes a comprehensive multi-risk insurance, notably including a cancellation guarantee for all justified reasons, with coverage for epidemics, as well as medical expenses abroad up to €150,000. The cancellation guarantee is offered up to €8,000 per person or €72,000 per event, ceilings tailored to the majority of trips affected by last-minute bookings.

Listening to the field as a driver

“Our partners have alerted us to the expected rise in departures booked at very short notice. With Ready2go, we provide them with a concrete, competitive, operational solution and a real margin booster to support them in this new market dynamic,” emphasizes Morgane David, Commercial Director.

This new offering illustrates Assurever’s ability to combine adaptability, responsiveness, and closeness with its partners. More than a product launch, Ready2go demonstrates a constant commitment to supporting tourism professionals with concrete solutions designed to meet the realities on the ground.