2024 Tripadvisor Winter Travel Index: A Thriving Winter Season Ahead, Sparked by Holiday Celebrations and Seasonal Joy

Rhea-AI Summary

Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index reveals strong travel intentions for the 2024 winter season, with 57% of Americans planning trips and 96% maintaining or increasing their travel frequency compared to last winter. 93% of travelers plan to spend the same or more than last year, with 53% increasing their budget. The survey shows 91% will travel for seasonal celebrations, with trips typically lasting 3-7 nights. New York City ranks as the top domestic destination, while Cancun leads international destinations for US travelers. Notably, 28% of travelers plan to visit three or more cities during their winter trip, and 85% consider activities essential to their travel experience.

Positive

• Strong consumer travel spending with 93% maintaining or increasing budget
• 96% of travelers planning to maintain or increase travel frequency
• 85% of travelers consider activities essential, indicating strong auxiliary revenue potential
• 57% of Americans planning winter travel, showing robust demand

Negative

• None.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The Winter Travel Index reveals strong consumer confidence in the travel sector, with 93% maintaining or increasing their travel budgets. Key indicators point to robust revenue potential for Tripadvisor:

• High intent to travel: 57% of Americans planning winter trips, with 96% maintaining or increasing travel frequency
• Extended stays: Most travelers planning 3-7 night trips, suggesting higher booking values
• Multi-city exploration: 28% planning to visit 3+ cities, indicating increased platform engagement
• Activity bookings: 85% view activities as essential, supporting Tripadvisor's experiences segment

The data suggests a strong winter season for Tripadvisor's core revenue streams - advertising, bookings and experiences. The trend toward treating winter as a primary vacation season, rather than just holiday travel, could lead to sustained platform engagement and revenue growth.

New York City Shines as the Top Domestic Destination, While Cancun Tops International Destinations for Sun and Fun

NEEDHAM, Mass., Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of Americans (57%) are preparing for winter travel, with 96% of them planning to travel as much or even more than last winter, according to Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index released today. Seasonal data from the world's largest travel guidance platform shows the majority (91%) will embark on trips for specific seasonal celebrations, such as winter festivals and activities, typically spending between 3 to 7 nights away from home to fully embrace the holiday cheer.

Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index also spotlights the most traveled winter destinations for 2024, with New York City ranking number one for US domestic travelers and Cancun as the top choice for US travelers wandering abroad.

Winter Travel: It's not Just for Holidays any more
Winter holidays are a rare moment in time where calendars align as both work and school may be closed for a week or more. As a result, Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index shows that a growing number of people are using the winter holiday season as their main vacation season, with well over one-quarter (28%) of travelers planning to go big and visit three or more cities during their primary winter trip.

"Our latest Winter Travel Index shows that the vast majority of people (85%) are flexible when selecting their destination this season. This reflects that people are taking the opportunity to turn travel into a vacation this period and not just use the time off to see family," said Hilary Fischer-Groban, Senior Director of Global Brand & Insights at Tripadvisor. "As well as taking time to celebrate with their nearest and dearest, there is certainly an appetite to experience new and exciting places this winter."

2024 Top Winter Travel Destinations
From Cancun to New York, American travelers are seeking both sun-soaked days and city lights this winter. 

For all destinations that top the Winter Travel Index for American travelers, see below.

Popular International Destinations for US Travelers	Popular Domestic Destinations for US Travelers
1. Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula	1. New York City, New York
2. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic	2. Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Cabo San Lucas, Baja California	3. Orlando, Florida
4. Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula	4. Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Paris, Ille-de-France	5. Key West, Florida
6. London, England	6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco	7. Anaheim, California
8. Palm - Eagle Beach, Aruba	8. Chicago, Illinois
9. San Juan, Puerto Rico	9. Miami Beach, Florida
10. Bavaro, Dominican Republic	10. Sedona, Arizona

US Discretionary Spending and Travel
For Americans, travel spending remains strong, with 93% of respondents planning to spend the same or more than last year, and 53% planning to increase their budget. Travel continues to be a top priority in discretionary spending, often considered a "non-negotiable expense." At least some travelers will be using that increased budget on activities during their trip. Some 85% of travelers report that activities are seen as being an essential part of their travel.

Methodology The data cited in this release was gathered and analyzed from two key sources:

• A Tripadvisor Consumer Sentiment Survey, based on data drawn from an online survey of over 4,850 consumers, in partnership with Qualtrics, conducted between September 06 - October 03, 2024 across six countries, including Australia, Italy, Japan, Singapore, U.K. & U.S.
• Site behavioral data sourced from first party traffic data on the Tripadvisor platform for searches made by travelers in the U.S., U.K. and Japan between August 1 - October 20, 2024 for travel between November 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025.

About Tripadvisor, Inc.
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform*, helps millions of people each month** become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use Tripadvisor's website and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than a billion reviews and contributions, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.

Tripadvisor LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tripadvisor, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP). The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. own and operate a portfolio of travel media brands and businesses, operating under various websites and apps.

* Source: SimilarWeb, unique users de-duplicated monthly, Nov 2024
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files

 

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SOURCE Tripadvisor

FAQ

What are the top international destinations for US travelers according to Tripadvisor (TRIP) Winter Travel Index 2024?

According to Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index, the top international destinations for US travelers in 2024 are: 1. Cancun 2. Punta Cana 3. Cabo San Lucas 4. Playa del Carmen 5. Paris

How much are Americans planning to spend on winter travel in 2024 according to Tripadvisor (TRIP)?

According to Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index, 93% of Americans plan to spend the same or more than last year on winter travel, with 53% planning to increase their travel budget

What percentage of Americans are planning winter travel in 2024 according to Tripadvisor (TRIP)?

According to Tripadvisor's Winter Travel Index, 57% of Americans are planning winter travel in 2024, with 96% planning to travel as much or more than last winter