Stats: 60 Percent of Consumers to Stay Home for Holidays This Year

Heading into what is traditionally a busy travel season, this month’s Amex Trendex from American Express sheds light on how this holiday season will be different from years past with at least three in five consumers, surveyed across seven countries, planning to stay home for the holidays this year. 

In lieu of holiday travels, however, consumers are using the time to wish for and dream about future travel. Over half of respondents agree they are very interested in receiving a domestic (58 percent) or international (54 percent) trip in 2021 as a gift this holiday season. Three in five (60 percent) says their 2021 resolution is to take more vacation time than they did in 2020. And two-thirds (67 percent) indicated that because of the pandemic, they are saving more money for their next trip.

Perhaps due to how stressful 2020 has been, 64 percent of consumers agreed that, compared to before the pandemic, they are now more likely to book a vacation where they can relax and lounge versus be physically active (53 percent).

In addition, due to health concerns regarding COVID-19, consumers are willing to pay for privacy and space. Eighty percent agree that they are more likely to book a vacation that is not crowded or if they can have access to private accommodations. Three in five (61 percent) are more likely to pay extra for a hotel with private amenities (a private pool, for instance) and just over half (53 percent) indicated they would be willing to pay extra for a hotel with a socially distanced spa.

American Express Travel found similar trends when looking at global card member booking data for travel booked through them in September 2020. Trends include:

Staycations continues to grow: 76 percent of international card member hotel bookings were for domestic hotel properties (compared to 34 percent in Sept of last year). One-quarter (27 percent) of U.S. card member hotel bookings were booked at properties located in the state where the card member resides (compared to 15 percent in September 2019).

Card members continue to book last-minute: 77 percent of international card member hotel bookings were for travel within the next 30 days (compared to 66 percent in September 2019), while 81 percent of U.S. card member hotel bookings were for travel within the next 30 days (compared to 71 percent last year). Similarly, 65 percent of international card member air bookings were made for travel within the next 30 days (compared to 50 percent in September 2019) and 69 percent of U.S. card member air bookings made for travel within the next 30 days (compared to 54 percent).

Source: Amex Trendex

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