Americans plan to travel more this summer
Nearly one-in-five (18%) Americans plan to take more vacation trips this summer than last summer, but are keeping value for their travel dollars top of mind, according to a national survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Choice Hotels International. According to the survey, a vast majority (87%) of Americans indicate that they plan to take more or about the same number of trips this summer compared to what they did last year. Further, over two-in-five (42%) Americans report that they plan to take two or more trips this summer. Results also indicate that a vast majority (84%) of Americans who will take vacations plan to travel primarily by car for at least one of their trips and plan on racking up an average of 1,172 miles on their leisure travel this summer. Americans report that they plan to take an average of two trips away from home during the summer months. And these aren’t just day trips that summer travellers are looking to take this year. Almost all (94%) of Americans travelling this summer plan to spend at least one night away from home and a majority (72%) expect to spend at least one night in a hotel. In fact, over one-third of American travellers plan to spend five nights or more in hotels during their summer vacations. “People are looking to travel again, plain and simple,”said Steve Joyce, president and CEO of Choice Hotels International, Inc. “When people have jobs and feel secure in those jobs, they’re going to be more likely to travel for pleasure and that’s what we’re anticipating as the summer travel season kicks into gear.”So what are travellers looking for in making their summer travel plans this year? One word, value. Nine in 10 plan to travel this summer and stay in a hotel indicate that getting good value for their money is extremely important, very important or important in their hotel selection. Americans rank free breakfast the highest among areas where hotels can demonstrate that they provide good value for the money (75%). Among other areas of opportunity for hotels to provide value for the majority of summer travellers are best rate guarantees (62%), free parking (60%) and free high-speed Internet access (58%).
