Americans plan more and longer trips this holiday season

Americans are prioritising journey, investing in upgrades and experiences to rejoice the season. 

• Holiday journey intent continues to be sturdy: Half (49%) of Americans intend to journey between Thanksgiving and mid-January. Travelers anticipate to spend a median of $3,294for his or her longest holiday journey, and their seasonal journey price range is 4% larger than in 2023.
• Holiday vacationers plan to take 2.14 trips, up from 1.88 final yr, and 33% are planning holidays of per week or longer, in comparison with 25% in 2023.
• Younger and higher-income vacationers are largely driving journey this season. Two-thirds of higher-income Americans plan to journey, and all generations, other than Boomers, plan for larger frequency and spend. Millennials plan to spend probably the most ($3,927).
• “Laptop lugging” makes its first bounce since 2021,as 49% of employed vacationers intend to work, a minimum of partially, on their longest leisure journey of the 2024 holiday season, up from 34% final yr.

Holiday journey spending takes off

The variety of Americans planning to go dwelling — or elsewhere — for the vacations stays regular. Nearly half (49%) of Americans plan to journey throughout the 2024 holiday season, in comparison with 48% in 2023. However, frequency and budgets for these holiday trips are rising as journey turns into a better precedence throughout the board.

• Americans who plan to journey anticipate to take 2.14 trips this season in comparison with 1.88 in 2023, the very best since journey resumed post-pandemic. Budgets are additionally up, as 28% (versus 18% in 2023) plan to considerably improve their budgets for his or her longest journey this yr. Americans anticipate to spend a median of $3,294 on their longest holiday journey.
• Among these rising their spend, 4 in 10 say that journey has change into more vital to them, making it the first motive for greater budgets this holiday season.
• Planned journey is concentrated round two main holidays with 3 in 10 Americans planning to journey over Thanksgiving, and 1 / 4 planning a visit across the December holidays.
• Although fewer trips are deliberate for later within the season, these trips are typically longer. Among these touring in early- to mid-January, 36% plan to make a journey lasting per week or more, in comparison with simply 16% at Thanksgiving.
• All generations other than Boomers are planning for larger journey frequency and spend, with millennials planning to spend probably the most ($3,927) and take probably the most trips (2.6).
• There is a notable rise in journey intent amongst higher-income Americans (these incomes $100,000 and above) — 66% plan to journey in 2024, up from 59% final yr. They will make up over half of paid lodging vacationers (52%) this holiday season.
• While 46% of Americans say they’re doing higher financially, up from 31% in 2023, the explanations for not touring this season stay largely unchanged: 39% say they can not afford it (just like the 38% who mentioned the identical in 2023) and 31% say journey is simply too costly proper now (versus 32% in 2023). 

“Enthusiasm for holiday travel keeps climbing as travelers look to make the most of the season by visiting friends and family. An increase in trip frequency is pushing budgets up, giving travel providers the opportunity to capitalize on festive experiences. Travelers who invest in their holiday memories could create the groundwork for loyalty that stays long past the new year.” Says Kate Ferrara, vice chair and U.S. transportation, hospitality and providers sector chief, Deloitte

Personal choice drives choices, creating alternatives to construct loyalty

Travelers are in search of out personalised, upgraded experiences, creating a chance for suppliers to drive loyalty this holiday season.

• Nearly 1 in 5 plan to fly throughout Thanksgiving or Christmas, and 30% plan to remain in paid lodging, together with lodges or non-public leases.
• Those planning to extend budgets are planning to splurge on longer trips (49%), higher lodging places (44%) and upgraded airfare (29%).
• Over half (52%) of holiday vacationers plan to take a home flight a minimum of as soon as this holiday season, in comparison with 24% flying internationally. Road trips have additionally seen a resurgence as 65% of holiday vacationers plan to take one.
• More vacationers are utilizing social media apps to plan their holiday trips (39% versus 27% in 2023). The variety of vacationers leveraging brief social video content material and GenAI instruments can also be up — 27% versus 16% in 2023 and 16% versus 8% in 2023, respectively.

Laptop lugging ascends once more

As more Americans place a better worth on their journey plans, working whereas touring or “laptop lugging,” makes a major bounce this holiday season for the primary time since 2021. 

• Half (49%) of vacationers intend to work, a minimum of partially, on their longest leisure journey of the holiday season, in comparison with one-third (34%) final yr.
• Laptop lugging is basically pushed by younger- and higher-income vacationers: 58% of Gen Z vacationers and 54% of millennials plan to partake, whereas 52% of high-income vacationers say the identical. However, the pattern is up throughout all revenue ranges and age teams.
• Remote work continues to allow holiday vacationers to take more seasonal trips and lengthen them. Laptop luggers plan to take a median of two.7 trips this season in comparison with simply 2 trips for these planning to disconnect fully. Those who plan to work remotely may also lengthen their longest journey by a median of three days.
• Laptop luggers are additionally more inclined to journey internationally, with 3 in 10 planning to take action in comparison with 18% of disconnectors. The hottest longest-trip locations for worldwide laptop computer luggers are Europe (41%), Mexico (20%) and Canada (14%), mirroring the final inhabitants’s decisions (Europe: 36%, Mexico: 23% and Canada: 14%).

“Travelers are finding ways to make their holidays happen, their way. Younger travelers are splurging on upgraded experiences; remote work continues to enable longer, more frequent trips; and everyone is looking for good food and plenty of options. The travel industry has a prime opportunity to tap into these trends to help drive lasting loyalty this holiday season.” Says Eileen Crowley, U.S. transportation, hospitality and providers, accomplice, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Deloitte’s “2024 Holiday Travel Survey” is predicated on a survey of 4,074 Americans fielded between Sept. 17 and Sept. 23. Of these, 2,005 respondents who’re planning to journey between Thanksgiving and mid-January certified as holiday vacationers.