TripAdvisor Unveils 2011 Travel Trends Forecast

NEWTON, Mass., November 9, 2010 - TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced the results of its annual travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers. Americans appear eager to pack their bags in the coming year, as 36 percent plan to spend more on leisure travel in 2011 than this year, while 42 percent expect to spend the same amount. Ninety percent plan to take two or more leisure trips next year—a slight increase on the 89 percent who said they have done so in 2010.

While travelers named an increase in online travel deals as the best travel development of 2010 (39 percent), rising airfares (40 percent) and bedbugs (20 percent) are the top two travel concerns for 2011.

On the Road Again: Travelers Globetrotting in 2011

  — 69 percent of travelers plan to take international trips next year, and
      of that group, 52 percent will travel to Europe, 13 percent will visit
      Asia and 12 percent will journey to South America.
  — The top three international destinations U.S. travelers plan to visit in
      2011 are Paris, London and Rome.
  — 75 percent of respondents plan to visit a U.S. city next year, with Las
      Vegas, New York City and San Francisco the most popular choices.
  — Vacation rentals will be a popular lodging choice in 2011, with 47
      percent considering a stay in a vacation rental home - a significant
      increase compared to 39 percent one year ago.

Best and Worst in Travel for 2010 and the Past Decade

Best Travel Development of 2010:

  1. More online travel deals - 39%
  2. Cheaper hotel rates - 22%
  3. More in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access on planes - 12%

Worst Travel Development of 2010:

  1. Carry-on baggage fees - 69%
  2. New hotel fees - 10%
  3. TSA full body scanners - 10%

Best Travel Development of the Past Decade:

  1. Online check-in - 26%
  2. Candid traveler reviews - 16%
  3. Increased options for online travel bookings - 16%

Worst Travel Development of the Past Decade:

  1. More airline fees - 45%
  2. Carry on restrictions for liquids, gels and aerosols - 19%
  3. Longer security lines - 9%

Up in the Air

  — Despite being fed up with airline fees, 24 percent of travelers plan to
      fly more next year, while 60 percent will fly the same amount.
  — Shelling-out for in-flight extras is becoming second nature to
      travelers, with 77 percent expecting to do so in 2011 - up from 72
      percent one year ago.
  — In-flight manners leave much to be desired, with the top flyer faux pas
      revealed to be people kicking the seat back (28 percent). Rude seat
      recliners (20 percent) and passengers sneezing or coughing without
      covering their mouths (18 percent) further aggravate travelers.
  — 27 percent would pay to sit in a child-free section of an airplane,
      while 19 percent would pay to sit in a quiet section, should such an
      option ever exist.
  — 65 percent think passengers of size should be required to pay for an
      extra seat on an airline when necessary.

Popular Pursuits and Eco-Traveling in 2011

Top Five Vacation Activities for Next Year:

  1. Visiting an historic site - 85%
  2. Visiting a museum - 73%
  3. Visiting a national park - 46%
  4. Attending a festival - 43%
  5. Hiking - 42%

  — Further popular pursuits among travelers for the year ahead include
      water activities (38 percent), visiting a spa (33 percent) and gambling
      (29 percent).
  — When asked what travel activities they might try for the first time in
      2011, 11 percent chose a cruise, while 11 percent are also considering
      taking an educational course on vacation.
  — 47 percent will take eco-friendly factors in to consideration, such as
      their carbon footprint or “green” hotel policies, when making travel
      plans in 2011.
  — 20 percent expect to be more environmentally conscious in their travel
      decision and choices next year.

Increase in Connectivity Leads to “Fake-ations”

  — Technological advances in 2010 have led to 59 percent of travelers in
      employment being more connected to work than ever on leisure trips this
      year.
  — 69 percent connect with work while on leisure trips, while 16 percent
      confess that work always or often impacts their vacations.
  — 62 percent check their work e-mail on leisure trips, while 13 percent
      call the office to check-in.
  — Eight percent admit to considering the remoteness of their destination,
      specifically to avoid connecting with work.
  — 90 percent of travelers also connect with home on their leisure travels
      - but just 26 percent send postcards, instead favoring modern-day
      technology, including e-mail (74 percent), text messages (40 percent)
      and social networking sites (28 percent).

Hotel Highs and Lodging Lows

According to the survey, the top three hotel brands that travelers are loyal to are:

  1. Marriott - 24%
  2. Hilton - 18%
  3. Hampton Inn - 7%

  — When it comes to booking hotels, travelers are significantly less brand
      loyal than one year ago, with 39 percent of travelers now faithful to
      one name - a significant drop from 59 percent in 2010.
  — 96 percent believe that U.S. hotels offer room for improvement in 2011,
      with higher standards of cleanliness topping travelers’ wish-lists (22
      percent).
  — Of those who have stayed in international hotels, 90 percent believe
      these could be bettered next year, with wider availability of free
      internet access the most-wanted enhancement (20 percent).

Americans Deemed Friendliest and Most Annoying Travelers

For the second consecutive year, Americans are voted both the friendliest travelers - and also the most irritating.

Friendliest Travelers, According to the Survey

  1. Americans
  2. Australians
  3. Canadians

Most Annoying Travelers, According to the Survey

  1. Americans
  2. French
  3. Japanese

“With over a third of travelers revealing that they start planning their vacations more than six months before a trip, many Americans are already eagerly anticipating some terrific travel adventures for 2011,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “Online travel deals, named as the greatest travel development of 2010, will continue to offer aspiring vacationers fantastic opportunities next year - whether they’re planning a nearby weekend getaway, or the dream trip of a lifetime.”

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Media Group Sites, Worldwide, August 2010
** In addition to TripAdvisor, The TripAdvisor Media Group of websites includes: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.travel-library.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com and http://www.kuxun.cn.
***Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, August 2010
**** TripAdvisor sites operate in 25 countries worldwide: http://www.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk, http://www.tripadvisor.ca, http://www.tripadvisor.it, http://www.tripadvisor.es, http://www.tripadvisor.de, http://www.tripadvisor.fr, http://www.tripadvisor.jp, www..daodao.com, http://www.tripadvisor.in, http://www.tripadvisor.se, nl.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.com.br, http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr, http://www.tripadvisor.dk, http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx, http://www.tripadvisor.ie, http://www.tripadvisor.com.au, http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg, http://www.tripadvisor.co.kr, no.tripadvisor.com, pl.tripadvisor.com, th.tripadvisor.com, http://www.tripadvisor.ru and http://www.tripadvisor.com.gr/.

SOURCE TripAdvisor

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