Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Study: Most U.S travelers plan to vacation this year

Income level affects spending, less populated locations preferred

TRAVELERS ARE SETTLING into the new normal as the U.S. has started a slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, according the third in the series of the Fuel’s COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Study. Short road trips will be most popular at first, and for lower-income consumers will be choosing to have shorter stays.

The Fuel survey was sent out on April 30 and received more than 10,000 responses. As many as 62 percent of respondents said that they will take a vacation in 2020 and 16 percent said they would in 2021. Only 3 percent said that they had no desire to take a vacation.


Respondents said that they would go to less densely populated locations within a few hours drive from home during the first three months of restrictions being lifted. The study also found that 60 percent of respondents have either canceled or rescheduled a trip, down from nearly 70 percent two weeks ago.

“A large number of people have yet to cancel a future trip. Being proactive with these guests by reaching out and offering to reschedule for free would potentially reduce the risk of losing these guests altogether,” the study said. “We have also seen success from properties that call the canceled guests and offer to rebook them with added incentives and no-risk cancellation policy.”

Millennials will be more willing to travel sooner than Gen X and Boomers and are less risk-averse. They will also spend less compared to other generations, the study said. Respondents also said that discounts could persuade them to book for holidays now. Around 28 percent of Millenial travelers said that they will stay at a more affordable property. So, any type of added value which can be included in a stay will help persuade these potential guests.

“Younger people, in addition to those in lower-income brackets are going to be more price-sensitive. Providing value-added packages will increase the chance of persuading those who are in the more price-sensitive category,” the study said. “Gift cards for gas, 2 breakfasts included per stay, Starbucks gift card or free coffee from your on-site coffee shop are examples of a few low-cost items.”

The two-hour drive market is the most confident for traveling sooner rather than later, with 36 percent ready to travel within a month of restrictions being lifted, and 31 percent from 1 to 3 months. Travelers in lower-income brackets also are likely to spend less than they have in the past, with shorter stays to more affordable properties.

Another finding from the study is that more than 75 percent of all travelers would like to receive communications from hotels.

“Proactively messaging your guest database with important information on their safety provides value to them and shows empathy. Being in communication with your guest during this time increases your chances of earning bookings as recovery picks up,” it said.

Hotels should begin to market themselves now to cash in on the new business, Fuel said.

“With more than 60 percent of consumers saying that they are intending to take a vacation in 2020, keeping your property top of mind now is imperative so that people will think of you when they are ready to make travel plans,” according to the study. “Many people are feeling the financial strain this pandemic, with unemployment filings reaching astronomical levels for the last few weeks. Keeping in mind that money will be tight for people for some time, there should be a focus on adding value to your packages. Look at incorporating things like free upgrades and food and beverage credits to encourage people to stay with you and help their pennies stretch further.”

In late May a study from research firm Arrivalist found travel over Memorial Day weekend increased 48.5 percent over the prior weekend.

More for you

Breaking Barriers: Women of Color Power List 2025 Revealed

Breaking Barriers: Women of Color Power List 2025 Revealed

Women of Color Power List 2025 Debuts at AAHOACON 2025

ASIAN MEDIA GROUP USA, publisher of Asian Hospitality magazine, launched the first-ever “Women of Color Power List 2025” at the 2025 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans, honoring 51 women reshaping the U.S. hospitality industry. The publication is the first to spotlight the achievements of women of color, recognizing their resilience, innovation, and leadership.

Asian Media Group Managing Editor Kalpesh Solanki, Executive Editor Shailesh Solanki, and Chief Operating Officer Aditya Solanki announced the list during the conference.

Keep ReadingShow less
AAHOALending.com લોન્ચ 2025

AAHOA, બ્રિજ AAHOALending.com લોન્ચ કરે છે

AAHOA અને બ્રિજે AAHOALending.com ને AAHOACON 2025 માં રજૂ કર્યું

AAHOA અને બ્રિજે AAHOALending.com લોન્ચ કર્યું, જે હોસ્પિટાલિટી પર કેન્દ્રિત ડિજિટલ ધિરાણ પ્લેટફોર્મ છે. તે AAHOA સભ્યોને 150 થી વધુ ધિરાણકર્તાઓની ઍક્સેસ પ્રદાન કરે છે, જેમાં વધુને વધુ લોકોને નિયમિતપણે ઉમેરવાની યોજના છે, આ પ્લેટફોર્મ વપરાશકર્તાઓને ધિરાણ વિકલ્પોની તુલના કરવાની, શ્રેષ્ઠ દરો અને સુરક્ષિત ભંડોળ શોધવાની મંજૂરી આપે છે.

કોફાઉન્ડર અને CEO રોહિત માથુરની આગેવાની હેઠળના બ્રિજને ક્લબ બ્લુ ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રી પાર્ટનર તરીકે નિયુક્ત કરવામાં આવ્યા છે, જે AAHOAના પ્રોગ્રામમાં સર્વોચ્ચ સ્તર છે, તેના 300 ભાગીદારોમાંથી માત્ર 12 જ લાયકાત ધરાવે છે, એમ બંનેએ સંયુક્ત નિવેદનમાં જણાવ્યું હતું.

Keep ReadingShow less
2025માં મંદીની સંભાવના 50 ટકા : HAMA સર્વે

2025માં મંદીની સંભાવના 50 ટકા : HAMA સર્વે

HAMA 2025 સર્વે: 49% મેનેજર્સ મંદીની આશંકા ધરાવે છે

હોસ્પિટાલિટી એસેટ મેનેજર્સ એસોસિએશનના સ્પ્રિંગ 2025 ઇન્ડસ્ટ્રી આઉટલુક સર્વેક્ષણમાં અંદાજે 49 ટકા ઉત્તરદાતાઓ 2025 માં અમેરિકામાં મંદીની અપેક્ષા રાખે છે, જે 2024ના પાનખર સર્વેક્ષણમાં 19 ટકાથી વધુ છે. ટોચની ત્રણ ચિંતાઓ માંગ, ટેરિફ અને DOGE કટ અને વેતનમાં વધારો વચ્ચેનો જોડાણ છે.

HAMA સર્વેક્ષણમાં જાણવા મળ્યું છે કે લગભગ 55 ટકા ઉત્તરદાતાઓએ તેમની વર્તમાન વ્યૂહરચનાના ભાગ રૂપે બ્રાન્ડ અથવા મેનેજમેન્ટ ફેરફારો કર્યા છે અથવા કરવાની યોજના બનાવી છે.

Keep ReadingShow less
AAHOA Bridge AAHOALending 2025

AAHOA, Bridge launch AAHOALending.com

AAHOA and Bridge Unveil AAHOALending.com at AAHOACON 2025

AAHOA AND BRIDGE launched AAHOALending.com, a digital lending platform focused on hospitality. It offers AAHOA members access to more than 150 lenders, with plans to add more regularly, while allowing users to compare financing options, find the best rates and secure funding.

Bridge, led by Cofounder and CEO Rohit Mathur, has been named a Club Blue Industry Partner, the highest level in AAHOA’s program, with only 12 of its 300 partners qualifying, the duo said in a joint statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
HWIC WHLA partnership 2025

HWIC joins WHLA to support industry women

HWIC Becomes WHLA’s 34th Member in 2025

THE HOSPITALITY WOMEN’S Innovation Council recently joined as the 34th member of the Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance to support women and underserved communities across the industry. The council will encourage women to take part in the messaging, programs and initiatives shared by all WHLA groups.

WHLA was founded in 2021 as a consortium of organizations working to advance women in hospitality.

Keep ReadingShow less