Smarter, Kinder, Safer: Booking.com Reveals Nine Predictions For The Future Of Travel
Booking.com has released insights from a survey of over 20,000 travelers across 28 countries, revealing key trends that will shape travel post-COVID-19. 53% of travelers will wait for a vaccine before they feel comfortable traveling again. Key predictions include an increased focus on safety, sustainability, and value for money. 62% of American travelers are now more price-conscious, while 80% will take more precautions. Additionally, there will be a rise in local travel and remote work opportunities, emphasizing the blending of leisure and work travel.
- 62% of American travelers will be more price-conscious, indicating a potential for budget-friendly offerings.
- 80% of American travelers will take more precautions, driving demand for safety measures and protocols.
- 44% of travelers aim for more sustainable travel options, suggesting a shift towards eco-friendly practices in the industry.
- A predicted rise in 'Workcations', with 42% considering booking stays to work remotely, opens new market opportunities.
- 53% of travelers need a vaccine to feel comfortable traveling, delaying potential recovery in the travel industry.
- 60% of travelers plan to avoid certain destinations due to safety concerns, impacting those locations economically.
New insights, data and research spanning 20,000 travelers across 28 countries and territories combine to uncover the trends that will shape the way we experience travel in the year ahead, and beyond
NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With few facets of our lives and world unchanged by the unparalleled impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, travel too will be forever re-shaped by this extraordinary moment in time. Innovation within the travel industry will accelerate faster than ever to respond to marked shifts in travel expectations and behaviors. Travelers will look for a heightened level of travel safety and more sustainable travel offerings, as well as evolve their preferences for where and with whom they travel. Newfound appreciation for doorstep delights will endure alongside an abiding love of the far flung, and travelers will find new ways to blur the lines between work and travel. All of which will catapult a demand for deeper value from the trips we book in the future.
Digital travel leader Booking.com has combined research from more than 20,000 travelers across 28 countries and territories* with insights from proprietary search and endorsement data as well as over 20 years of travel expertise to reveal nine predictions for the future of travel - in the coming year and beyond. With over half (
1. WANDERMUST
Amidst new waves of travel hiatuses, restrictions and continued uncertainty, our innate human desire to travel has not been dampened. During recent lockdowns almost two-thirds (
Our time at home has made us crave the world outside more than ever with half (
2. VITAL VALUE
The financial legacy of Coronavirus will inevitably see people demand more bang for their buck in the future.
But the value consumers expect will go beyond price tags with three-quarters (
And while travelers are keen to support the industry in its recovery (
In a new Coronavirus world, local travel has risen to the fore as it remains easier, safer and happily often more sustainable. Looking ahead, staying closer to home and becoming familiarists rather than tourists will continue to be at the forefront of travel agendas. Half (
Doorstep delights offer both cost and time savings to which destinations and accommodations will respond by offering more historic and cultural heritage tours to educate and entertain visitors, as well as vying for tourists' affections through original offerings such as guest chefs and bespoke cocktails. With use of Booking.com's 'pet-friendly' filter more than doubling since the start of travel restrictions**, new and furrier breeds of travelers will also increasingly need catering for as we look ahead. All this in turn will fuel a Renaissance of road trips to explore forgotten local gems, a renewed passion to support local business and communities as they seek to rebuild, and inspire a newfound sense of pride in the history and beauty that's just around the corner.
Travelers will not write off the love of long-haul getaways, though. Appreciation for familiarity will sit alongside enduring love and anticipation of longer-haul travel as almost one in five (
Our appetite to consume travel content, get creative with our travel plans and share our travel dreams with each other will continue to grow exponentially over the coming year. Seeking comfort and distraction during weeks in lock-down, the overwhelming majority (
Yet, social media is not the only source of inspiration for global travelers when day-dreaming about their next trip, with
A majority of American travelers (
Short-term there will also be a change in transport preference and provisions, with two-thirds (
With almost half (
Additionally, the impact of Coronavirus has inspired almost half (
American travelers believe that the industry must adapt to this sustainable mindset for the long-term by offering more attractive off-season travel packages (
Working remotely has irreversibly entered the mainstream during the pandemic with the knock-on effect that people will look to take longer trips in the future that more effectively combine work and pleasure than ever before. No longer confined to five days a week in an office and desperate for a change of scene from Working From Home (WFH), we'll see a significant rise in the "Workcation," with travelers looking to extend their vacation experience in new locales by staying an extra week or two to work remotely - or conversely factoring holiday around a stint of remote working. Expect laptops to become even more of a mainstay in luggage than ever before, and an attractive spot on which to rest them a must-have when choosing where to stay.
Over a third (
As we learn to live with the consequences of the pandemic in 2021 and beyond, travelers will be keen to embrace a new and stripped-back way of experiencing the world. So much time spent in our own homes with our loved ones has given birth to adjusted travel priorities and a desire to enjoy more of our natural resources. Use of simple pleasure-related endorsements such as hiking (
Considering the renewed emphasis on privacy, sufficient space and personal control over cleanliness and hygiene, it is not surprising that we will see travelers look for accommodation 'closer to home' with
Tech innovation will play a crucial role in rebuilding traveler confidence and we will see the accelerated use of tech to adapt to a new type of traveler. Tech will help us regain the spontaneity, confidence and ease of times past, while at the same time help people travel safely and responsibly. Already,
The innovations we'll see next will bring even more change, with enhanced online experiences influencing future travel behavior and planning. Two in five (
Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com comments: "2020 has been a year like no other and while it will be some time before travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, all signs point to the fundamental and enduring role that travel plays in all our lives. It continues to bring moments of joy and inspiration to people across the globe during times of uncertainty, whether through dreaming and planning, or cherishing the trips we have been able to take. Enhancing our understanding of one another and our common desire to explore beyond the horizon, I believe that travel has a unique potential to come back stronger than ever in the years ahead as a primary driver of growth, equality and prosperity for people everywhere. In the meantime, with our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, we will be there for our customers offering the widest choice, great value and the easiest experience from anywhere and on any device so travelers can enjoy all of the unforgettable experiences this world has to offer."
For a deeper dive into Booking.com trends for the future of travel, visit https://www.booking.com/articles/category/future-of-travel.html.
CONTACT DETAILS
For further information, contact the Booking.com U.S. Press Office:
BookingUS@hs-pr.com
METHODOLOGY / NOTES TO EDITORS
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who have traveled for business or leisure in the past 12 months and must be planning to travel in the next 12 months (if/once travel restrictions are lifted). In total 20,934 respondents across 28 countries and territories were polled (including from 999 USA, 496 from Canada, 497 from Mexico, 997 from Colombia, 999 from Brazil, 499 from Argentina, 995 from Australia, 499 from New Zealand, 999 from Spain, 996 from Italy, 996 from France, 999 from UK, 996 from Germany, 498 from Netherlands, 499 from Denmark, 499 from Sweden, 498 from Croatia, 1001 from Russia, 498 from Israel, 997 from India, 994 from China, 499 from Hong Kong, 497 from Thailand, 496 from Singapore, 499 from Taiwan, 997 from South Korea, 500 from Vietnam and 995 from Japan). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2020.
**Based on the share of filter users who used the "pet friendly" filter, comparing the average use of the filter across 2019.
***Based on endorsements left on Booking.com as part of post-stay reviews. Insight based on endorsements that saw the biggest increase in monthly usage between 1st April 2020 and 11th September 2020, compared to the average monthly endorsements between January 2019 and February 2020.
About Booking.com:
Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world's leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com's mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences, a range of transportation options and incredible places to stay - from homes to hotels and much more. As one of the world's largest travel marketplaces for both established brands and entrepreneurs of all sizes, Booking.com enables properties all over the world to reach a global audience and grow their businesses. Booking.com is available in 44 languages and offers more than 28 million total reported accommodation listings, including more than 6.5 million listings alone of homes, apartments and other unique places to stay. No matter where you want to go or what you want to do, Booking.com makes it easy and backs it all up with 24/7 customer support.
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SOURCE Booking.com
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