Holidaybreak bookings down

HOLIDAYBREAK chairman Bob Ayling enjoyed hosting a board meeting at a campsite in northern France - but British tourists are harder to please. Bookings for next year's camping holidays are down 20% as consumers wait for bargains.

Ayling, who took the helm in June, will be trying not to repeat failures from his tenures at British Airways and the Millennium Dome. He is helping to boost revenues by booking himself one of Holidaybreak's South American adventure holidays. He says: 'There will be a bit of trekking and boating and I will be visiting the glaciers in Patagonia.' Ayling reckons camping sales will bounce back after Christmas, adding that rivals are down by about 30%.

Holidaybreak shares fell 14 1/2p to 528p on camping jitters, although most analysts are giving the company the benefit of the doubt. Pre-tax profits for the year to September fell from £24m to £20.7m, supported by demand for hotel trips.

Dividends increased 10% to 22p, yielding 4.2%.