2020 has been a year that will surely be written about in the history books. The impact of COVID-19 was global, and it affected a wide array of industries. Travel has been significantly impacted by the pandemic. At some point in the year, air passengers were at historic lows. A couple of months later, there’s exciting data available to learn more about how consumers are adapting their behavior when they travel. Read on to discover some examples.
1. According to AFAR, vacation rentals have all seen an uptick in US bookings. Plus, Bloomberg reports that searches for vacation rentals on Google are about at the same level as last year, while hotel searches are down.
It makes sense. Vacation homes are secluded, guests avoid crowds, and there’s no sharing amenities, such as pools, spas, and tennis courts. Plus, they have more space to walk around mask-free. These homes require just a handful of people to take care of the guests, so they’re less crowded as well.
2. According to Airdna, some states are seeing more bookings than in 2019.
West Virginia, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Wyoming, and Delaware are the states seeing more growth. Besides being strikingly beautiful, this may also be because they’re less crowded than other popular tourist destinations in the country.
3. According to Forbes, during the summer, rural vacation rentals have seen a surge of bookings.
People are eager to get away, but they’re looking for secluded locations immersed in nature, where they can both relax and enjoy plenty of fun-filled activities.
4. According to MMYG Travel Intelligence, the likelihood to take a domestic business trip during the next six months increased from 31% last month to 35%.
Slowly, but surely, corporate travel is getting back on its feet.
5. According to Fodors, 18% of survey respondents want to travel between January to March 2021.
With a vaccine on the horizon, some people want to wait a little longer until they start packing their suitcases.
6. According to Forbes, 21% of survey respondents said that working from anywhere creates significant travel opportunities.
This means that people who are allowed to work remotely are looking to get away for more extended periods. Telecommuting allows them the opportunity to combine traveling and working.
7. According to Skift, 78% of travelers consider contactless technology one of the top three factors when choosing accommodation.
People are leaning towards less one-on-one interactions and more automatization. When traveling, guests don’t want a large team of staff members catering to their needs. If technology can make it happen, they’re happy!
8. According to The Washington Post, people feel more comfortable traveling in personal vehicles.
A Forbes report states that markets within 2-5 hours of major metropolitan areas will see better performance. Plus, 9news reports that Florida residents looking to travel are driving and staying within 300 miles of home.
This is a worldwide trend: travelers prefer to visit drive-able destinations. Anyone can control the sanitization of their own car, but hopping on an airplane is different. Crowds, shared common areas, and incoming groups from all over the planet are just a few of the issues people face at the airport.