A survey indicating that an overwhelming 88 percent of Americans plan to take a summer vacation this year was among the positive statistics that came out this week in the travel industry. Travel Agent has rounded up the top stats you need to know.
Nearly 90 Percent of Americans Plan Summer Travel
An overwhelming 88 percent of Americans plan to take a summer vacation this year, up 11 percent year-over-year, with more than half of travelers using reward points to book hotel and airfare, according to new survey data released by Orbitz.com.
The overhang from the brutal winter will see travelers seeking solace in warm temperatures regardless of increased travel costs, Orbitz.com says, but notes travelers can expect to pay more for air travel and hotel prices alike this summer.
Agencies' Air Ticket Sales Up in First Four Months of 2014
ARC reports that the consolidated dollar value of airline tickets sold by U.S.-based travel agencies rose 4.93 percent year-over-year in the first four months of 2014 compared to the same period last year. The totals: $32.4 billion versus $30.9 billion in 2013.
Alaska Airlines Tops Airline Satisfaction
J.D. Power has released its 2014 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. Among the key findings: Alaska Airlines ranked highest in the traditional carrier segment for the seventh consecutive year.
Among low-cost carriers, JetBlue scored highest for the ninth consecutive year.
U.S. Ahead of Pace to See 100 Million Visitors by 2021
Good news for inbound travel to the United States: According to a projection by the research and economics team at the U.S. Travel Association, the country is on pace to exceed the goal of 100 million annual international visitors set by the National Travel and Tourism Strategy (NTTS) for 2021.
When the Obama administration laid out the NTTS on May 10, 2012, a rate of 4.8 percent annual growth was needed to reach its 2021 goal. The country is ahead of that pace, achieving an average of 5.5 percent annual growth in the two years since (growth from 2011-2013).
Top 10 Most Important Factors When Making Travel Arrangements
Expedia recently released a look at the most important factors for travelers when making travel arrangements as part of the Expedia High Fliers survey, which reached more than 6,000 Expedia Elite Plus members. Here are the top 10.
Visit www.expedia.com
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for the latest travel industry news, trends and research.