A British firm specialising in Bermuda travel says the Iran war has taken the heat out of the United Kingdom’s early summer booking period.

“We have emphasised Bermuda’s reputation as a safe‑haven destination,” said Dominic Hodson, director of travel agency Purely Bermuda in Leatherhead, Surrey.

“We tell clients that Bermuda is politically stable, geographically remote and far removed from the concerns of travelling east.”

Purely Bermuda has been selling holidays to the island since 2004 and claims to be the only Bermuda tour specialist in Britain.

Jet‑fuel availability has become the issue weighing most heavily on customers, Mr Hodson said.

Owing to the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz in Iran, jet fuel costs have rocketed, causing airlines such as Air Canada, British Airways and Delta to cut routes and make other changes to save on costs. Although the major airlines have so far only cut a small percentage of their routes, it has sowed seeds of doubt in travellers’ minds.

“It has certainly dampened first‑quarter bookings,” Mr Hodson said. “However, UK travellers are famously determined not to miss their annual holiday. Our expectation is that they will still travel, but they will book far later than normal.”

British visitors account for about 8 per cent of air arrivals in Bermuda, with Americans and Canadians being the island’s main air arrival clients.

Nagma Walker, general manager of Azura Bermuda in Warwick said uncertainty in flight schedules or higher airfares could impact visitor decisions.

“However, Bermuda’s proximity to the East Coast of the US and strong air connections help insulate us a bit from some of the more drastic impacts seen in long‑haul markets,” she said.

The Royal Gazette found that local hoteliers are staying optimistic about the summer tourism season, but closely monitoring global developments.

“At this stage, while there is some caution given how quickly external factors can shift, we remain encouraged by the overall outlook,” a Hamilton Princess & Beach Club spokeswoman said.

“Demand trends remain positive, with strong booking pace across both leisure and group segments. There is continued interest from key markets including the US and Canada.”

Bermuda saw an increase in visitors from Canada last summer due to tensions between Canada and the United States.

“Canada performed well last year,” the spokeswoman said. “While airline capacity adjustments are being watched carefully, we still anticipate meaningful contribution from that market.”

Overall occupancy was expected to be good and broadly in line with last year’s strong performance, with peak summer periods pacing well.

“As always, we remain agile in our approach, recognising that global travel dynamics can evolve quickly,” the spokeswoman said. “The underlying demand for Bermuda as a destination and for the Hamilton Princess specifically, remains very strong.”

After years of closure, the Fairmont Southampton is expected to reopen this year following a comprehensive $550 million renovation.

Ms Walker said this is a positive development for Bermuda as a whole.

“The addition of large event spaces like ballrooms and conference rooms will attract conferences, weddings and corporate groups to the island,” she said. “That benefits everyone.”

She said large groups may stay at the Southampton hotel, but smaller properties like Azura can gain from the spillover.

“People attending these events may prefer to stay at smaller hotels for a more personal experience, or they might book additional rooms for family members or guests attending special events. The larger events increase the overall visitor numbers to Bermuda and that’s great for the entire hotel industry.”

In the meantime, Ms Walker said things are looking positive for the six-year-old south shore resort.

“We are seeing strong interest and bookings are coming in well,” she said. “Our team is excited to offer guests a personalised, intimate experience that makes Azura stand out.”

She said with more travellers seeking unique, peaceful getaways, Azura is confident that the demand for its boutique offerings will continue to grow.

“We are looking forward to welcoming more guests this summer and providing them with a memorable and relaxing stay,” she said.

Bushara Bushara, general manager of Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort and Spa said there was no crystal ball he could use to predict the future.

“We are not really sure what the outcome will be from the jet-fuel shortage, but so far, so good,” he said.

Mr Bushara said in recent years the booking window has shrunk. “People don’t book months ahead of time any more,” he said.

He said business last summer was a little flat for the hotel, but so far things are shaping up well for 2026 despite the headwinds in the market.