Cruise travel is back. New research from Expedia Group, in partnership with Environics Analytics, finds that the past few weeks have seen a resurgence in cruise demand, with travellers eager to resume vacations at sea. Expedia Group data indicates that there has been more than a 20% month on month increase in demand in Canadian cruise searches for travel in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.[1] Additional demographics research by Environics Analytics measured a sample of approximately 3,000 post-pandemic ‘early adopters’, defined as having booked trips after March 1, 2021 that depart between July 1, Read more
Expedia
Expedia released its 2022 Travel Trends Report today, revealing new traveller priorities that are shaking up the status quo in 2022. As more countries begin to welcome travellers back and demand spikes 1 for international destinations such as Maui, Rome and Bali, Expedia’s research reveals around two-thirds 2 of Canadians (61%) are planning to go big on their next trips with a new “no regrets” style of travel, which Expedia has dubbed the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Trips) mindset. Appreciating that each trip is a privilege, travellers are in pursuit of more transformative and fulfilling journeys, without holding back. Read more
The Conference Board of Canada and Expedia Group say travel and tourism are definitely on the upswing. In their latest report, the Conference Board found that 86% of Canadians say they miss travelling. Better yet, the numbers who report that COVID-19 is slowing their travel plans is down sharply. Speaking during a zoom session put on by the Discover America Canada Committee, Jennifer Hendry, the conference board’s Senior Research Associate, said that in October of 2020, 62% of Canadians had no travel plans. In their October, 2021 report, that number was down to 47%. Hendry says that shows that “the Read more
A survey of U.S. travellers suggests a major travel rebound is underway. The latest monthly report from Longwoods International finds that the number of American travellers with trip plans in the next six months now stands at 91%, the highest level since the beginning of the pandemic and up from a low of 57% last December. And the percentage of travellers planning to change upcoming travel plans because of COVID-19 has declined to 46%, down from a pandemic peak of 85% in April of last year. The study, undertaken on October 27, also found that the steady decline of COVID-19 across Read more
An Expedia Canada study finds Canadians are definitely staying home this summer. I also have a look at a free $50 offer for restaurants, attractions and other places that the Explorers’ Edge tourism area (including Muskoka) is offering to locals and seasonal residents, plus a new celebrity chef for Air Canada and a new, apartment-style hotel in Montreal that sounds perfect for social distancing. My Future of Travel blog for July 20. Canadians Staying Close to Home This Summer This comes as no surprise. But it’s quite telling. An Expedia Canada study released today (July 20) finds that Canadians are Read more