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Spontaneous Travel on the Rise in 2021, Says Report
Posted On 27 Jan 2021
Spontaneity will be the word of the year for 2021 travelers as a new global study reveals 89 percent of US travelers intend to be “more impulsive than ever”, following 2020’s cancelled trips.
The new “2021 Upgrade” report of Hotels.com has uncovered how this new lust for spontaneity will have a ripple effect on the hotel and travel industries, as travelers say “yes” to more. Research was conducted by One Poll in December 2020, with 1,000 respondents across the United States.”
The global study showed that 32 percent are dubbing 2020 the “lost year” for travel prompting more than a third (35 percent) to be more likely to drop everything to “vacay” if they can in 2021.
“2020 was the year of staying home, postponing trips and posting old vacation pictures on social media. This year, travelers are ready to ‘seize the stay’ when travel returns and they feel comfortable to take the trips they missed out on. We saw that when travel restrictions eased for many in July and August 2020, over half of bookings were made three days or less ahead of their stay, compared to 40 percent in 2019,” said Josh Belkin, vice president, global brand at Hotels.com.
Over a quarter of travelers reveal they would say yes to more last-minute trips (28 percent) and one in five (26 percent) say they would take off on a long-haul trip for just a few days or make no plans for the trip in favor of being spontaneous when they arrive (25 percent).
Looking for the best #HotelLife
According to the report, a further 17 percent of travelers are ready to live their best luxury #HotelLife and will be booking a five-star hotel for their 2021 getaways.
Experts at Hotels.com also predict this extravagant attitude will have a dramatic impact on hotel booking behavior, with 2021 being the year to really “treat yo self”.
Compared to pre-pandemic times over a quarter (26 percent) would now book a better hotel room, and nearly a quarter would spontaneously say “yes” to a room upgrade if offered when booking (24 percent).
Photo © Maria Theofanopoulou
As the report notes, travelers have been craving that sweet #HotelLife, missing relaxing in a plush robe (13 percent), the peace and quiet (30 percent), breakfast buffets (23 percent), hotel restaurants and bars (29 percent), rooms with a view (26 percent), ordering room service (18 percent), visiting the hotel pool (20 percent), treating themselves to the hotel spa (17 percent) and of course the incredible hotel bed (18 percent).
This craving means, according to Hotels.com experts, that travelers will take a different approach to hotel bookings in 2021 and “it will be all about upgrading the experience”.
When travelers were asked what new experiences they would say “yes” to, around one in five (20 percent) would splurge on a spa treatment, uber-luxe hotel restaurant (20 percent), or a fancy cocktail in the hotel’s bar (24 percent).
I understand that this article is just advertisement by the company who prepared the Report and mostly is referring to US travelling public and not the European holiday makers. It is a well known fact that Only 15 % of the American public has applied and holds passport, because the us population prefer to travel on their own hot holiday destinations, Florida, California, Pacific islands and other places of interest.
Europeans tourists have been travelling, year round, for many many years on thee SPANISH, GREEK, ITALIAN and so many other seaside destinations and islands.
During Christmas period most people used to decide and soon after were making their bookings and over 60% have booked before the end of March.
Now under the current situation people will always book the last minute, if there will be any airlines left to fly.
Unfortunately with all these lock down decisions, people will have no jobs and money to pay for their holidays.
Greece last year where there was a little of travelling has lost over 70% of its Holiday income. People in EU and also GB are not any better now…….
Just wonder how many people will have a job and money to travel not only this year but also in years to come!