Hertz Survey Reveals How Travelers Are Adapting Their Holiday Plans Amid Higher Travel Costs
Advance reservations are up 16% for Thanksgiving and 7% for Christmas and New Year's compared with last year.
Sentiment and the balance of points
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Rhea-AI Summary
Hertz (HTZ) released holiday survey and booking data showing travelers adjusting plans as advance reservations rose year over year.
Thanksgiving bookings are up 16%, while Christmas and New Year's bookings are up 7%. Among respondents planning holiday travel, six in 10 say higher airfares make them more likely to drive. Among those planning Thanksgiving travel, 37% say they are driving instead of flying to save money.
Orlando tops Hertz demand for both holiday periods. Small and standard SUVs are the most-booked categories; Hertz expects vehicles seating seven or more travelers to sell out first. Among respondents planning travel between Dec. 20 and Jan. 4, 65% say they are using vacation time, remote work or both to extend trips.
How this balance works
Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.
It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.
Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.
Positive
- Moderate pointThanksgiving advance reservations are up 16% year over year.
- Moderate pointChristmas and New Year's advance reservations are up 7% year over year.
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
- Thanksgiving booking growth
- 16% year over year
- Hertz advance reservations
- Christmas and New Year's booking growth
- 7% year over year
- Hertz advance reservations
- More likely to drive
- 6 in 10 respondents
- Travelers planning for Thanksgiving and the December holiday period; higher airfares cited
- Driving instead of flying
- 37%
- Respondents planning Thanksgiving travel; cited saving money
Historical Context
-
Earlier fall travel survey reported nearly 60% expecting to drive and double-digit destination booking growth.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Travelers are prioritizing affordability this holiday season by choosing road trips, extending stays and leaving earlier
As travelers weigh driving against higher airfares, Hertz advance reservations offer another indicator of holiday driving plans: bookings are up
"Travelers are looking for ways to stretch their holiday budgets without giving up time with family and friends," said Chris Berg, President of Rental at Hertz. "For families or groups traveling together, loading everyone into a rental car rather than buying several airline tickets may help make the trip more affordable and give them more flexibility over when they come and go."
Holiday Travel by the Numbers
Americans continue to prioritize holiday travel despite ongoing cost pressures. Nearly half of respondents (
As affordability remains top of mind:
- More than one-third of Americans (
37% ) say travel costs are affecting their Thanksgiving plans, whether by changing plans, cutting costs elsewhere or staying home altogether. - Among all survey respondents,
45% would consider a drive of two to six hours rather than flying for Thanksgiving, and another32% would consider seven hours or more.
Thanksgiving Travel Outlook
Among respondents planning to drive for Thanksgiving,
Top Thanksgiving destinations based on Hertz demand:
Orlando Phoenix Las Vegas Atlanta Denver
Small and standard SUVs are the most-booked vehicle categories, with vehicles seating seven or more travelers expected to sell out first.
Christmas and New Year's Travel Outlook
Among respondents planning to travel between Dec. 20 and Jan. 4, nearly two-thirds (
Hertz expects the busiest rental pickup dates to be Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 26.
Top Christmas and New Year's destinations based on Hertz demand:
Orlando Los Angeles Phoenix Las Vegas Oahu
Small and standard SUVs are also the most-booked vehicle categories for year-end travel, with vehicles seating seven or more travelers expected to sell out first.
Holiday Travel Saving Tips
With higher airfares making driving a more likely option for many holiday travelers, Hertz highlights ways travelers could stretch their holiday budgets on car rentals.
- Book ahead: Just as airfare tends to rise closer to departure, rental vehicle demand increases as the holidays approach. Reserving early can help travelers secure lower rates before peak holiday periods.
- Pick up before the Thanksgiving rush: Hertz rental data suggests travelers could find lower rates by picking up their vehicle the weekend before Thanksgiving.
- Compare pickup days: Hertz rental trends suggest travelers may find lower daily rates by picking up on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays in November and December.
- Look for seasonal savings: Check Hertz's current promotions for additional savings, including its upcoming Cyber Sale offering up to
30% off qualifying rentals starting Nov 20.
*The Hertz holiday travel release combines Hertz internal booking data with a Zappi survey of 1,000
About Hertz
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. is one of the world's leading car rental and mobility solutions providers. Its subsidiaries, including The Hertz Corporation, and licensees operate the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, and Firefly vehicle rental brands, with approximately 11,000 rental locations in 160 countries around the globe. The Company also operates the Hertz Car Sales brand, which offers a range of quality, competitively priced used cars for sale online and at locations across the United States, and the Hertz 24/7 car-sharing business in Europe. The Company's operating affiliate, Oro Mobility, provides integrated driver-led and autonomous fleet management solutions across a range of mobility segments. For more information about Hertz, visit www.hertz.com.
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SOURCE The Hertz Corporation
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