This week in travel industry stats saw more positive signs for travel, particularly in the air and cruise sectors.
Air Tickets Sold by Agencies Up 4.68 Percent
ARC reports that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies rose 4.68 percent year-over-year in the first eight months of 2014 compared to the same period last year, totaling $63.1 billion versus $60.3 billion in 2013.
Sales for August 2014 were up 1.04 percent at $7.1 billion compared to August 2013 at $7 billion, ARC says.
Cruise Capacity Up in 2013
According to new data by the Cruise Lines International Association, over the three-year period since the U.S. economy began to recover from the Great Recession in 2010, the number of ocean-going ships increased worldwide by 5.3 percent.
Similarly, the lower berth capacity of the global fleet increased by 10 percent while available bed days have increased by 18 percent.
Source: The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2013
World Cup Boosts Hotel Room Rates
The World Cup rocketed Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro to the top of the list of cities with the biggest hotel room rate increases for the first six months of 2014, according to Hogg Robinson Group's Interim Hotel Survey.
Johannesburg, Moscow and Aberdeen also saw sharp increases.
Anniversaries Top Celebration Vacations
According to recent research by AARP, anniversaries were the most popular milestones travelers are using celebration vacations to enjoy. Here's the rest.
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