Sun & Snow, which manages the rental of nearly 2.6 thousand flats, in more than 50 resorts and cities in Poland, recorded better occupancy rates in its facilities during this year’s winter holidays than last year.
This year’s winter holidays lasted until 25 February, ending the conventional high winter season in Polish tourism. The average occupancy rate for holiday flats located in the mountains, which are operated by Sun & Snow, was 75 per cent. Interestingly, according to the operator, which has the largest independent booking system in Poland, interest in seaside resorts was higher during the winter season than a year earlier. In turn, the most popular destination, Białka Tatrzańska, recorded occupancy levels in excess of 90 per cent, despite the weather factor, which this year did not favour the industry as in previous years. Zakopane and Karpacz were also traditionally very popular.
“The offer we prepared this year included many more locations and flats than in previous years, and yet we recorded higher occupancy rates – especially in the mountain resorts. Both we and the flat owners obviously feel a little unsatisfied as the second half of the holidays came under the pressure of not very nice weather, which did not help us when it came to trips organised spontaneously and a few days in advance,” says Mariola Skorupa, Sun & Snow’s Sales and Marketing Director.
Sun & Snow emphasises that during the winter period, starting with Christmas trips, most stays were booked much earlier than in previous years. Until now, a significant trend has been for tourists to hold off on booking until the last minute, due to both weather concerns, but also fresh memories of travel bans during the pandemic period, or concerns about price increases.
“The market and tourists are slowly returning to their pre-pandemic habits. Bookings are now being made much earlier, although of course there is still a large group waiting until the last minute to make a decision,” Mariola Skorupa adds.
It is worth recalling that in 2023, the company handled more than 66,000 bookings and stays, which translated into more than 215,000 tourists who visited Sun & Snow-operated resorts. At the same time, Sun & Snow acquired more than 400 new flats, which should result in an increase in these statistics already in the 2024 figures. In addition to its own proprietary website-based booking system and a diverse way of communicating with customers, the company cooperates and integrates its offer with almost all available sales channels.
