Some of the Heritage properties are booked solid for the remainder of the year and into 2021, with others also having high occupancy rates over the normally quieter winter months.
Heritage venues manager Joanna Hepworth said overall winter occupancy was 200% higher than during a normal year, while the number of 2021 bookings made in September and October was 80% higher than usual.
‘It’s amazing and we are having to turn people away for some bookings,’ she said. ‘The vast majority of the bookings are from locals, although we do have some summer bookings from visitors.
‘A lot of people have had to cancel or postpone their holidays away from Jersey, so they’ve been looking for alternatives – and we’ve seen quite a lot of midweek bookings which typically wouldn’t happen at this time of year.’
Mrs Hepworth said that the high levels of bookings represented a ‘silver lining’ for Jersey Heritage, compensating for a fall in income for attractions such as Elizabeth Castle, Mont Orgueil, Hamptonne and La Hougue Bie.
There are nine self-catering properties that are available to rent from Jersey Heritage, plus two more basic options: Lewis Tower at St Ouen and L’Etacquerel Fort on the Island’s north coast.
The most popular options have been the Barge Aground at St Ouen and the Radio Tower at Corbière.
‘Barge Aground and the Radio Tower are booked almost solidly well into next year,’ Mrs Hepworth added. ‘Archirondel Tower is our newest property and has also been popular, and lots of people who want to get “off-Island” have been able to stay at Elizabeth Castle.’
The advice for those who are still keen to secure a booking is to remain flexible about dates and consider midweek options if possible, Mrs Hepworth said.
