From an MMGY Global report on the continued strength of traveler intentions to a Hilton survey that put a bucket list trip over a promotion, this week in travel stats showed that travel is an important priority in American life.
61 Percent Plan Trip During Next Sixth Months
According to a new travelhorizons survey of 2,300 adults by MMGY Global, the intention to travel remains strong. Six out of ten adults (61 percent) surveyed in July 2015 plan to take at least one overnight leisure trip during the next six months, unchanged from the robust level recorded during the comparable period in 2014. Travel intentions have been rising since the end of 2013, MMGY said.
The survey also revealed that satisfaction with cruising has reached an all-time high, despite recent negative publicity about safety and hygiene-related issues.
68 Percent Would Choose Bucket List Trip Over Promotion
At the same time this week, Hilton Worldwide released its own reminder of the importance of travel to the American public. According to a new Hampton by Hilton study, a new type of traveler the hotel company has dubbed the "Seekender" regularly takes advantage of weekends to spontaneously enjoy new experiences, with travel being at the top of the list:
The study, conducted by Wakefield Research, also revealed that Seekenders base their travel around four main types of activities/passions: food, sports, music or the great outdoors. Respondents across different generations also agreed that hitting the road for adventure and having experiences in life ranks higher than money.
As part of Hampton by Hilton’s efforts to inspire Americans to seize the weekend, the brand is enlisting the Ultimate Seekender Team. The group of travel savvy influencers will celebrate the weekend and boldly explore their global neighborhood. Their adventures, and other surprises, will be captured and shared at www.HamptonSeekender.com throughout the year beginning August 10.
Source: www.HamptonSeekender.com
International Air Travel Up 3 Percent in June
Finally, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its assessment of the state of premium and economy air travel in June.
Here are the highlights:
Passenger travel on international markets rose by just 3 percent in June compared to a year ago, decelerating significantly on the May increase of 6.2 percent year-on-year. Economy class travel grew at a stronger rate than premium international air travel, but both classes experienced a notable slowdown within the Far East region.
Economy class travel rose 3.2 percent in June year-on-year, a slowdown on May growth of 6.4 percent. Growth in economy class travel – the more price sensitive travel market – has been supported by lower fares over recent months.
Premium travel was up just 1.4 percent in June year-on-year, down from May growth of 4.1 percent. Growth in premium travel has been reflecting continued weakness in business travel demand drivers, with global business confidence being dragged down by emerging markets.
In June, the subdued performance in both travel classes was mostly a result of slow growth within the Far East. This result could be the first sign of weakness in air travel demand following months of sluggish economic performance in some parts of Asia.
Looking ahead, although improvements in the Eurozone economy have translated into stronger demand for travel in both premium and economy classes over recent months, weakness in emerging markets could counter this positive trend. The June data suggests downside risks may already be materializing.
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