8 December 2025 Trade Update

Executive Summary

Welcome to the latest update from the VisitGuernsey team. In this edition, we have updates on everything from October occupancy to a visit from an international film crew looking to bring Guernseyman William Le Lacheur into the spotlight.

Agenda:

• October occupancy was up 7% year on year, reflecting the success of initiatives to extend the season into the shoulder months.  
• Additional Black Friday emailer sent out, with offers from Aurigny, Brittany Ferries and Channel Escapes. 
• A new Teesside route is starting from May 2026, bookable with Premier Holidays.
• The ABTA Travel Trends Conference took place in London last week, allowing the team to hear insights from 25 sector experts. 
• An international film crew -with plans to create a feature film on Guernseyman William Le Lacheur - visited the island in November to progress their research. 
• A prominent local advertising opportunity is available at Beau Sejour (first come, first served).
• Hotel de Havelet's meeting room renovations are now complete, offering versatile spaces for every guest and business partner. 

If you would like more information about anything in this newsletter, or if there is anything we can do to help, please get in touch by emailing enquiries@visitguernsey.com or by calling 01481 223552.

October occupancy up 7% year on year

Occupancy for October 2025 was 60%, up 7% from October 2024. 

One of our key strategic aims is to extend the season, something we have focused marketing efforts around in recent years – and it is good to see growth in these shoulder months reflecting that hard work.

Taking long-stay guests into account, the boost in visitors is even more apparent, with occupancy sitting at 52% this October versus 44% last year: an increase of 8%.

See all facts and figures here.  

Additional Black Friday deals emailer

To capitalise on Black Friday, last week we went sent out an additional emailer to our consumer database. 

The emailer featured three Black Friday offers, designed to drive more visitors to the island. These included 20% off selected seats with Aurigny between 1 December 2025 and 24 March 2026, 20% off journeys with Brittany Ferries between January and November 2026 and 15% off all holidays with Channel Escapes. 

New Teesside route for 2026

Visitors can now fly to Guernsey from Teesside with Premier Holidays!

Starting from 12 May, flights depart every Tuesday until 22 September.

Read more here. 

Premier trade events

As we wrap up our Premier Holidays trade events for 2025, we are pleased to report a total of 44 successful events, including airport and holiday shows, webinars, travel conferences, client events and training events. Excellent feedback was received from all who attended.

ABTA Travel Trends conference 

Last week, we had the privilege of attending ABTA’s Travel Trends Conference in London, where we joined marketing professionals from across the travel industry to hear insights from 25 leading sector experts. 

The event featured a dynamic mix of presentations and panel discussions with tour operators, carriers, creative agencies, and PR firms. Together, they explored the latest travel trends, drawing on data from leading market research firm YouGov, and shared predictions for 2026 and beyond. 

We left feeling inspired and full of fresh ideas, while reassured that many of our current strategies are already aligned with industry best practices.  

Curious about what stood out? Check out our key findings on LinkedIn.

William Le Lacheur film visit

Last month, we welcomed a film crew to the island who are researching Captain Le Lacheur, with the intention of turning his story into a feature film.

The group, which included lead Costa Rican producer Jose Palma, fellow acclaimed producers Deepak Sikka and Josh Harris, and screenwriter and executive producer Jeremy Sheldon, met Le Lacheur's descendants, did a recce of potential filming locations and met the President of the Committee for Economic Development, Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and ED Committee member, and lead for film, Deputy Haley Camp.

With a working title of ‘Black Gold’, the team is keen to involve local creatives during the process.

We look forward to welcoming the team back over the coming months to support the project and bring one of our own to the big screen.

Find out more about the trip on the BBC or Guernsey Press website.

About William Le Lacheur

Guernseyman Captain William Le Lacheur left a lasting legacy in Costa Rica for his role in establishing the nation's coffee trade in the mid 19th century..

A blue plaque commemorating Le Lacheur was unveiled in 2022, at the former home of the Le Lacheur family, by the Costa Rican Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr Rafael Ortiz Fábrega, and the Bailiff, Mr Richard McMahon.

Read more about William Le Lacheur here.

Reach an active local audience with prominent advertising slot 

Looking to get your brand in front of thousands of active, engaged locals? Beau Sejour Leisure Centre is offering prime advertising space in two high-visibility locations:  

• Above the café entrance – a bold banner site measuring 8.3m wide x 3.4m high  
• Above the swimming gallery – a prominent space at 5.2m wide x 1.1m high  

With over 515,000 visitors passing through the main entrance annually, this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to a large and diverse audience. 

To find out more, contact Birte.Paulsen@gov.gg

Refurbished meeting room facilities at Hotel de Havelet

Hotel de Havelet, a statuesque Georgian house with attractive gardens and terraces on the outskirts of St Peter Port, has recently upgraded its offering for meetings and conferences.  

Newly refurbished hotel facilities and meeting spaces are available, as well as tailored corporate packages, providing versatile options for every guest and business partner. 

Get in touch with Hotel de Havelet to find out more, including packages with leisure suite access, overnight accommodation and a variety of dining or catering options. 

Call +44 (0)1481 722199 or email stay@dehaveletguernsey.com.