Daish’s Holidays, the independent family-owned coach holiday company, is reporting a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in group bookings for 2026, as holidaymakers increasingly opt to travel together in search of better value and shared experiences.
The growth is being driven by a wide range of travellers, including clubs and societies, friendship groups, and multi-generational families, who are drawn to the simplicity of organised travel and the opportunity to spend quality time together without the hassle of coordinating plans independently.
Paul Harper, commercial director at Daish’s Holidays, says: “Group travel is proving more popular than ever this year. We are seeing more people choosing to holiday together, drawn by the ease of planning, the value for money and, importantly, the shared experience. Travelling as a group is about enjoying the holiday together, from the moment of boarding the coach to the evenings spent enjoying meals and entertainment at the hotel. That sense of community is one reason we’re seeing such strong demand this year.”
The trend is most evident at the company’s Barrowfield Hotel in Newquay, where group bookings have surged by more than 60 per cent, alongside almost a 130 per cent rise in guest numbers. This highlights a shift towards larger group sizes, ranging from 12 to 160 people.
The Prince Regent Hotel in Weymouth is also delivering strong results, with group bookings up by 13 per cent and holidaymaker numbers rising by 32 per cent. The Abbey Lawn Hotel in Torquay has recorded a 14 per cent increase in bookings, while Daish’s Hotel on the Isle of Wight has seen group bookings rise by seven per cent year to date.
Daish’s Holidays, which operates 11 hotels across England and Wales, has also been officially recognised for its group offering. The company is named as a finalist in the Best Company for UK Coach/Touring Holidays category at the 2026 Group Leisure & Travel Awards.
The company offers both coach and self-drive holidays and its holidays remain a popular choice for guests seeking traditional British holidays in prime coastal locations, with children enjoying free holidays or discounted prices depending on age.
For more information, visit www.daishs.com.
