Daily Mail

Diva boosts holiday bookings

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A STAR-studded ad campaign featuring the likes of Charlie Sheen and Mariah Carey is helping boost bookings at hostelworl­d as it posted record annual earnings.

The online holiday bookings group said its brand bookings jumped 13pc higher in 2017 thanks largely to its ongoing ‘unexpected guest’ campaign, which featured hollywood bad boy Sheen, following successful appearance­s by former boxer Chris eubank and US rapper 50 Cent. Overall group bookings rose by 6pc, or 7.5m. It has just unveiled its latest commercial starring pop diva Carey ( pictured) as it continues to invest heavily in marketing. Full-year results for the Dublin- based group showed underlying earnings rose 10pc to a record £23m in 2017 on net revenues 8pc higher at £75.4m. But the firm remained cautious over trading conditions in europe and said it continues to face cost headwinds from weak foreign exchange rates.

Chief executive Feargal Mooney said he plans to roll out a free-cancellati­on booking option following a successful pilot. The group is also expanding an IT centre in Portugal focusing on software developmen­t. hostelworl­d’s website features 36,000 properties in 170 countries.

It has offices in London, Porto, Seoul, Shanghai and Sydney and employs around 250 staff.

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