Travelers will continue to seek value from hotels, dining, and airlines doing into 2010, according to the most recent installment of the travelhorizons™ survey co-authored by Ypartnership and the U.S. Travel Association. More than half (53 percent) of respondents say they’re planning a vacation by April, but they’re doing so with an eye on costs. Additionally, consumers will embrace the next generation of online booking tools.
On the list of what’s hot for leisure travelers: Drive vacations, mid-priced hotels, low cost carriers, all-inclusive resorts, packaged vacations, and cruises (regardless of duration). What’s not? Luxury hotels and resorts, first class air, 5-star dining. The survey also indicates that people are planning longer vacations, translating into additional hotel nights.
Demand for business travel services, on the other hand, will continue to languish until the economy turns around. The travelhorizons survey revealed that only 18 percent of U.S. adults are planning to take at least one overnight trip for business purposes between now and the end of April 2010. For those who do travel, important considerations for this crowd include same-day business trips, coach-class air, upscale lodging at midscale prices, free breakfast, and free high speed Internet access.
