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RSS| Likelihood To Travel For Leisure Or Business In May-August, 2009 | |
|
| % All U.S. Adults |
| More Likely To Travel (Net) | 8 |
| Much more likely to travel | 3 |
| Somewhat more likely to travel | 4 |
| No impact on my likelihood to travel | 40 |
| Less Likely To Travel (Net) | 40 |
| Somewhat less likely to travel | 23 |
| Much less likely to travel | 18 |
| No plans to travel | 12 |
| Source: Harris Interactive, May 2009 (% Rounded) | |
Many travelers say the shaky economy means their 2009 summer vacation will look different than their 2008 summer getaway:
- Nearly three in ten adults plan on decreasing the number of leisure trips they make by car
- One-third say they will take fewer plane trips for leisure
- Another third will cut the number of weekend trips they take
- Slightly more than one-third will reduce the duration of their vacations
- Nearly half plan to reduce the amount of money they spend on vacation
| Change In Number And Duration Of Leisure Trips (vs. May - August 2008; % of Those Who Traveled Last Summer) | ||||
| Trip Plan | Increase | Remain the Same | Decrease | Not Applicable |
| Number of leisure trips by car | 15% | 50% | 29% | 6% |
| Number of weekend trips | 12 | 44 | 34 | 10 |
| Amount spent on leisure trips | 10 | 40 | 46 | 4 |
| Duration of leisure trips | 10 | 51 | 35 | 4 |
| Number of leisure trips by plane | 9 | 29 | 33 | 30 |
| Source: Harris Interactive, May 2009 (% Rounded) | ||||
Those who are planning a trip this summer will spend an average of $1,629 on their travel. Among those who are planning on reducing the amount of money they spend:
- 60% are hoping to economize their leisure travel this summer by finding less expensive activities or meal options
- 52% will seek out less expensive accommodations or
- 50% will vacation closer to home
- 39% are hoping to reduce travel costs by staying with family and friends instead of at a hotel, by cooking their own meals instead of dining out or by driving instead of flying
- 31% say they will share costs with other family members or friends
| Anticipated Travel Leisure + Business Spend (May - August; Spending to include transportation, accommodations, food/beverage, activities, etc) | |
| Planned Expenditures | % Respondents Planning Travel |
| None | 2% |
| $1-$499 | 26 |
| $500-$999 | 24 |
| $1,000-$1,999 | 23 |
| $2,000-$4,999 | 17 |
| $5,000+ | 7 |
| Mean | $1,629 |
| Source: Harris Interactive, May 2009 (% Rounded) | |
Companies are also altering their summer travel plans due to economic conditions. 22% of adults say their employer has reduced or eliminated all non-essential travel and 15% work for companies which are encouraging the use of technology (e.g. teleconferencing, video conferencing) to reduce or eliminate travel.
| Company Changes In Business Travel Policy Within The Past Year | |
| Planned Change | % Respondents |
| Reduction or elimination of all "non-essential" travel | 22% |
| Encourage teleconferencing, video conferencing | 15 |
| book at hotels/with airlines with preferred rates | 11 |
| Encourage day trips | 9 |
| Enforce/Establish per-diem meal allowances | 7 |
| Book travel through online travel agency | 7 |
| Enforce overnight accommodation limits | 6 |
| Reduction/Elimination for entertaining clients | 6 |
| Share a hotel room/suite | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Not sure | 10 |
| I do not travel for business | 32 |
| Company has not made changes in travel policy | 10 |
| Company does not have travel policy | 16 |
| Source: Harris Interactive, May 2009 (% Rounded; Multiple Responses Allowed) | |
And, from the Creative Group...
| Advertising & Marketing Executives Checking In With Work During Vacation | |||
| Frequency of Check-In | 2009 | 2006 | 2001 |
| Several times daily | 30% | 19% | 11% |
| Once Daily | 31 | 28 | 27 |
| 2-3 times a week | 18 | 27 | 27 |
| Once a week | 13 | 13 | 16 |
| Don't check in | 8 | 12 | 19 |
| Source: The Creative Group, May 2009 | |||
Americans are not willing to postpone their summer vacation plans altogether. Because many people intend to stay closer to home for their summer vacations, the report suggests that the travel industry might consider promotions and advertising that reaches out to people in their own cities, states, and regions. Retailers, says the report, may also look to market to larger group activities as people look to reduce vacation costs by sharing costs with family and friends.
For more information, please visit Harris Interactive here.
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