It’s the turn of another year and one thing is clear: Americans are ready to travel again and they’re not waiting for the warm Summer months to make up for lost time.
There’s no escaping the fact that travel logistics have become increasingly complicated, putting more emphasis on pre -trip planning. But U.S. travelers don ’t seem deterred. Like so many things, they’re just adjusting. They’re evolving.
It’s the roller coaster ride that won’t end. The start of summer was marked by Americans returning to leisure travel in numbers so great that airlines and other travel providers couldn’t keep up. Now as we head into fall, three things are clear: travel demand remains high, customer satisfaction for many brands has dropped, and another surge in COVID -19 is creating renewed stress and anxiety.
Leisure travel is on the rise. With increased populations slowing inching toward herd immunity, COVID restrictions relaxing, and warmer weather bringing people outdoors, the travel demand is exponential compared to last summer.
Demand for travel is on the rise. While COVID anxiety still exists among potential leisure travelers, so does increasing demand. Relaxed COVID restrictions at destinations and events, widespread vaccinations, and the promise of warmer months ahead have combined to boost travel intention across all audiences.
COVID anxiety continues to impact almost every consumer market, and leisure travel is no exception. While many Americans came out of the summer months feeling better about travel, a second wave of COVID cases and restrictions has led to a noteworthy decrease in travel intention for the start of 2021.
In Slingshot's first edition of our quarterly Leisure Travel Forecast, we examine how Americans intend to travel in the months ahead. Where will they go? For how long? How will they get there? What audiences are more likely to travel than others? And what might keep them from doing it?
