Online retailer lastminute.com has raised expectations for a busy summer after seeing booking levels move "materially ahead" of hopes.
The group said trading in the first three months of the year had beaten forecasts last month with bookings made for future trips and events much stronger than the £170 million sterling previously expected.
The update - issued ahead of a meeting with investors and analysts - builds on a strong first quarter when transaction values rose 68.3 per cent to £146.6 million.
Shares made further gains after yesterday rising 18.25p to 225p on the back of expectations of a strong trading statement from the company.
During the second quarter to the end of March, lastminute said transaction values based on when the customer takes the trip or event would be "slightly ahead" of the £160 million indicated previously.
It added that the dominance of flight-only sales during the second quarter would leave gross margins in line with those generated in the first quarter. The company said the significant growth in bookings would leave sales and marketing costs for the quarter higher than market expectations.
Lastminute is forecast to report bottom-line profits of around £28 million in the current financial year, up from losses of £47.7 million last time.