Summer travel is in full swing. In fact, in May, American Express U.S. consumer travel bookings through American Express Travel were 95 percent of what they were in May of 2019.
Beyond that, before we head into the fall, families and working adults alike are trying to squeeze in as many vacations as they can, according to a recent Amex Trendex survey. The results found that 60 percent of respondents are planning to take one last vacation in August before returning to the office and nearly half (47 percent) of families are planning to travel more than usual before the school year starts.
As 80 percent of respondents are either hopeful, happy or excited at the idea of returning to in-person events, like travel. This month’s Amex Trendex also uncovered top ways travelers are embracing the end of summer travel:
Making Up for Lost Time Before The Return-to-Office and School
- 40 percent of respondents traveled more this summer to make up for not traveling as much last year
- Looking ahead to the fall, 63 percent of consumers want to be more intentional with their paid time off and will schedule time off around a vacation instead of taking their days without a plan
Spending More on Travel This Year
- 61 percent of parents expect to spend more on experiences, such as travel, this year
- 35 percent of respondents say they spent more on travel this summer than they have in the past
Taking On Summer Travel With Family and Friends
- Travel companions differ by generation—Millennials (57 percent) and Gen Xers (52 percent) plan to travel with family; Boomers plan to travel with significant others (52 percent); and Gen Z plans to travel with friends (28 percent)
- Top experiences respondents are planning to travel for include family reunions (22 percent), with friends (18 percent), birthday trips (8 percent) and anniversaries (8 percent)
- Top destinations parents are most looking forward to traveling internationally are Europe (33 percent), the Caribbean (21 percent), Asia (6 percent) and South/Central America (4 percent)
This Amex Trendex online poll was conducted by Morning Consult between June 25-28, among a national sample of 2,000 general population travelers with a household income of at least $70,000, and defined as adults who traveled by air at least once in 2019.
Source: Amex Trendex
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