LONDON, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- http://www.arena-media.co.uk

April was a terrible sales period for many in the travel industry due to a combination of the recession, Easter and the Royal Wedding. May has been marginally better for sales with encouraging signs that consumers are booking holidays again.

Recent research by Arena Media (http://www.arena-media.co.uk/) (the Havas-owned media planning and buying group) has also identified the Olympic Games ticket ballot as having a significant impact on major purchases such as holidays.

In the survey of over 1,000 UK adults, 30% of those surveyed said that bidding for Olympics tickets had made them hold off spending on major purchases such as holidays. With the vast majority of money already taken from accounts in the first round ballot, the survey also found that few people have got more than 20% of their preferred allocation.

Whilst not good news for those wanting to attend the Olympic Games, it is great news for travel companies as these consumers have now freed up significant sums of money that may be able to spend on booking their summer holiday.

The key headlines from the research show that:

- 63% of those who bid for tickets got none of their allocation, whilst 35% got some of what they wanted with only 2% getting most or all.

- 75% of respondents will wait for 2nd round ballot options before deciding what next to do in pursuit of tickets.

- Most respondents appear to have got only 1-2 events at most. Those spending over GBP1,000 were more likely to get tickets than those spending less, but spending more did not necessarily mean more tickets.

- Half of respondents thought the ballot process was unfair whilst a further 30% thought it was unfair but that it was the best available option.

Chris Armond, Group Business Director at Arena Media, said: "The uncertainty with the ballot process made people hesitant about making major purchases until they found out how much they were committed to. With the vast majority of people being disappointed in the ballot, and more realistic about their chances of getting any tickets, many people will be more willing to book their summer holiday now"

About Arena Media

Arena Media was launched in 2008 following an investment from Arena Media Communications, part of Havas Media. Originally founded in 1990 as BLM, it is the only media agency to have won five IPA Advertising Effectiveness Awards. In 1998 it launched digital agency, Quantum, which grew to be the UK's second biggest independent digital agency. In 2009 Quantum was voted Digital Agency of the Year for the second year running. Arena Media also comprises of Arena Azure, a specialist in the toy and kids sector that launched in 2002.

Arena Media's clients include: Bourne Leisure, Character Options, Domino's Pizza, ESPN, Legal and General, Mirror Group Newspapers, Mr & Mrs Smith, Next Directory, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Swiftcover Insurance, Tesco Personal Finance, Thomas Cook and Sports Direct.

Arena is Havas Media's fastest-growing tailor-made communications network and now operates in eight markets: UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. In most markets established prior to 2008, Arena is ranked within the top five agencies. Arena's global client list include brands such as Santander, Movistar (Telefonica), Wal Mart, Bwin, Damm Group, Aero Mexico, Bebidas, Fox Channel, Paris, Bayer, Parmalat, Quala, Pritty Cola, Comunidad de Madrid (feria de artesania &Plan Fico, and Cetelem) and Mitsubishi.

SOURCE Arena Media