Following another strong year for bookings in 2025, CV Villas has unveiled new forward-looking data for 2026 which reveals that shoulder season is currently outperforming the traditional peak summer booking window, when looking at year-on-year comparisons.
The data indicates a clear shift in consumer booking patterns, with trade partners leveraging the enhanced value and superior availability offered during the quieter months, as well as general consumer attitudes to shoulder season travel shifting the dial.
Forward bookings for key shoulder months have seen substantial increases, particularly across Puglia and Croatia; year-on-year increases are as follows:
- June bookings are up 30% year-on-year
- September bookings have risen by 21%
- October bookings are up 30%
These robust figures signal a growing trend where consumers, through the guidance of agents, are opting for the milder weather, lower prices, and reduced crowds of the early and late summer periods, well into autumn.
CV Villas continues to see its trade partners play a vital role in sales, with this shift to the shoulder season underscoring the success of their business development team’s focus on improving agent engagement.
Commenting on the data, Chris Etheridge, Senior Business Development Manager, said: “The appetite for villa holidays remains stronger than ever, but what’s exciting is seeing our agents successfully educate clients on the immense benefits of travelling outside of the most in-demand weeks. A 30% increase for June and October is remarkable and is a testament to the value a great travel agent brings to the booking conversation. Our shoulder season offers clients better flight options, more choice from our hand-picked portfolio, and a truly relaxing experience of our destinations with fewer crowds.”
CV Villas has been trading for over 50 years and has amassed a portfolio of around 800 properties across Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Türkiye, Morocco, the Caribbean, Florida and Sri Lanka.
