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APPROXIMATELY 55.4 MILLION U.S. travelers are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday, marking a 2.3 percent increase from last year, according to AAA. This forecast represents AAA's third-highest Thanksgiving estimate since 2000, with 2005 and 2019 ranking as the top two years. "For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022," said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. "Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA's Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away and spend time with loved ones." According to AAA, the majority of Thanksgiving travelers will drive to their destinations. About 49.1 million Americans are expected to be on the road, a 1.7 percent increase from 2022. Gas prices this Thanksgiving could be lower than last year's national average of $3.58. The national average peaked at $3.87 in mid-August this year and has been decreasing despite global tensions affecting the oil market."

TRAVELERS ACROSS THE world are increasingly opting for short-haul destinations and making last-minute bookings over planned trips, according to a report from OYO Rooms. With a steady rise in vaccination coverage, combined with the easing of restrictions across regions, travelers have embraced the spirit of travel wholeheartedly, especially during holidays and festive long weekends. Oyo's Mid Season Global Holiday Trends 2021 report said that Labor Day in U.S., Gandhi Jayanthi in India, Ascension Day in Europe and Summer Holidays in UK were the most popular holidays among travelers this year. According to the report, Labor Day, New Year's, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving are America's most travelled holidays. Coastal hotspots such as Seattle and Miami have been wildly popular during public holidays, followed by California's Nevada City, Houston and Dallas, the report added. AAA Travel forecast that 53.4 million Americans would travel for Thanksgiving this year, and a survey from Motel 6 found that 82 percent of holiday travelers believe it is important to spend that time with loved ones. However, another survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association found only 29 percent of Americans are likely to travel for Thanksgiving and 33 percent are likely to travel for Christmas.

AN ESTIMATED 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, according to AAA Travel, 1.5 percent more than last year and 98 percent of pre-pandemic volumes. AAA is projecting this year will be the third busiest for Thanksgiving travel since AAA started tracking in 2000. Continuing a years-long trend, most travelers, nearly 49 million, will drive to their holiday destinations between Nov. 23 to 27, according to AAA. That number is up 0.4 percent from 2021 but still 2.5 percent below 2019 levels. "Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades," says Paula Twidale, AAA's Senior Vice President of Travel. "Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you're driving or flying."

APPROXIMATELY 52 PERCENT of Americans plan to travel overnight for leisure during the upcoming holidays, according to a recent American Hotel & Lodging Association survey. Hotels remain the top choice for 45 percent of leisure and 59 percent of business travelers. However, inflation continues to pose a significant challenge for hoteliers and travel-related businesses. A Morning Consult poll of 2,201 U.S. adults from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 found that of the 66 percent of Americans planning to travel in the next four months, 25 percent are more likely, and 41 percent are equally likely to stay in a hotel this fall or winter compared to last year. The survey found 32 percent of Americans plan to travel overnight for Thanksgiving, and 34 percent for Christmas, matching last year's figures.

U.S. HOTEL PERFORMANCE declined in the third week of December compared to the previous week, according to CoStar. However, year-over-year comparisons were positive due to the Hanukkah calendar shift and a shortened business travel period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Occupancy, RevPAR and ADR all saw week-over-week decreases. Occupancy fell to 48.9 percent for the week ending Dec. 21, down from 59.5 percent the previous week but up 11.4 percent year-over-year. ADR declined to $135.79 from $155.21, reflecting a 2.7 percent year-over-year increase. RevPAR dropped to $66.36 from $92.32 week-over-week but showed a 14.3 percent gain compared to the same period in 2023. Tampa, driven partly by hurricane recovery demand, led year-over-year growth among the top 25 markets, with occupancy up 37.9 percent to 71.5 percent and RevPAR up 63.8 percent to $110.51. New York City recorded the highest ADR increase, up 20.1 percent to $351.39.