She was selected for a role in the film "Mother" which broke booking records when it was first shown in 1929.
According to Ted Wake, director of sales and marketing for short break specialist Kirker Holidays, the demise of the city break has been greatly exaggerated: "For us 2008 was a record year for city break bookings, and we've seen an increase in bookings for this year too".
Minister Mrs Hart said it was inevitable that the best summer weather for several years would have given the industry a boost with day trips and last minute break bookings.
yha.org.uk HF Holidays early booking deals The walking and outdoor holiday specialist has a good selection of early-booking deals, such as up to £150 off a seven-day UK break booked before the end of the year.
Following what it claims were record-breaking bookings last year, the all-inclusive operator Club Med is offering up to 30% off its packages, which include all meals, lift passes, resort transfers and lessons or guiding.
Shops said items such as paddling pools, barbecues and outdoor furniture had been snapped up and more holidaymakers were booking breaks.
Annie Wilson, UK Managing Director of KAYAK, is convinced winter sun seekers are an easy to please bunch, "Today's holidaymakers are very sensible to their needs when it comes to booking a break and for many the date and guarantee of sunshine is often more important than the destination itself".
Make it a longer trip, by booking the break that starts on 8 December and, on your way to Watergate Bay, stop off at Outlaw's at the St Enodoc hotel, Rock, for a Surf & Turf masterclass dinner with Mitch Tonks and Henry Harris (6 December, £185pp, nathan-outlaw.com).
And he finished with a flourish, pocketing a break of 96 and booking his place in the next round.
A combination of increased air taxes on long-haul flights, political instability throughout the Arab world and the recession at home have all contributed to a surge in the number of Britons booking Gallic breaks.
