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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."

APPROXIMATELY 72 PERCENT of Americans are set to either maintain or increase their hotel stays in 2024 compared to 2023, according to a recent survey by American Hotel & Lodging Association. Over the next four months, around 53 percent plan overnight leisure travel, and 32 percent anticipate overnight business travel. Moreover, hotels continue to be the preferred lodging choice, with 71 percent of likely business travelers and 50 percent of likely leisure travelers favoring them. Despite a positive outlook for hoteliers, the survey, commissioned by AHLA and conducted by Morning Consult, found that inflation is preventing hotels and other travel-related businesses from reaching their full potential. Americans favor hotel stays Approximately 51 percent of respondents plan overnight travel for a family trip in the next four months, with 39 percent expressing a likelihood to stay in a hotel, the survey said. For a romantic getaway, around 38 percent are likely to travel overnight, of which 60 percent anticipate staying in a hotel.

TOURISTS ARE PROJECTED to maintain or increase their travel spending in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to American Express Travel's "2024 Global Travel Trends Report". Approximately 84 percent of respondents from countries including the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and the U.K. anticipate spending the same or more, with 77 percent prioritizing the quality of their travel experience over cost considerations. "Travelers are focused on creating the right itineraries and building memories, whether that means booking a trip to see a favorite sports team compete or taking a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise," said Audrey Hendley, American Express Travel's president. "Our 'Global Travel Trends Report' sheds light on what is driving global travel bookings and provides inspiration for where to go next." About 65 percent of respondents express greater interest in embarking on a major trip in 2024 compared to previous years, the report said. Additionally, 72 percent prefer saving money for a major trip over spending it on social outings with friends. More than half of respondents intend to save for a major trip over a span of six months to two years.

APPROXIMATELY 43.8 MILLION Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, surpassing pre-pandemic figures, according to a forecast by AAA. This represents a 4 percent increase from last year and approaches the 2005 record of 44 million Memorial Day weekend travelers. A record 38.4 million are expected to drive, marking the highest number since AAA began tracking in 2000. "We haven't seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years," said Paula Twidale, AAA Travel's senior vice president. "We're projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we're exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead." The number of drivers this year is up 4 percent compared to last year and 1.9 percent higher than in 2019, the auto club said. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides.

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ALL FORMS OF travel are experiencing a post-pandemic resurgence, including cruises, according to a survey from risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue. Some have concerns about their destination, but most are ready to hit the seven seas. According to the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, 30 percent of respondents were experiencing some hesitancy about where to go, or when to get back to travel after two years of pandemic-related travel restrictions. Meanwhile, 70 percent of respondents are not experiencing any re-entry to travel anxiety in general or on cruise ships, according to the survey. "Nineteen percent of survey takers say they feel safer or much safer about taking a cruise compared to last year," said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

TRAVELERS AS WELL as hoteliers are ready for business travel to get back to normal, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Nearly two-thirds of business travelers feel that the increased reliance on virtual work during COVID-19 is negatively impacting both productivity and workplace culture. As many as 77 percent of business travelers and 64 percent of American workers think that it is more important than ever to bring back business travel, according to a survey commissioned by the AHLA. The poll, conducted by Morning Consult among a national sample of 2,210 adults from March 8 to 9, also revealed that nearly seven in ten Americans approve the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent move to relax mask requirements. According to the survey, 43 percent of U.S. workers are more likely to travel for business compared to 2020-21.

HOTELS IN THE Americas performed above 2019 levels, although RevPAR is stabilizing amidst decreasing consumer travel spending, according to real estate firm JLL. This has affected resort markets heavily dependent on leisure travel. In contrast, urban travel demand is on the rise, driven by group, corporate, and inbound international travel. According to JLL's Global Real Estate Perspective for February 2024, global hotel RevPAR surpassed 2019 levels by 11.7 percent in the first 11 months of 2023. The global urban market strengthened with increased international travel and the return of business and group demand. London, New York, and Tokyo are expected to lead global RevPAR performance in 2024 as urban travel rebounds. Stabilization has weighed heaviest in resort markets, particularly in the Americas and EMEA, while Asia-Pacific continues to accelerate as intraregional travel grows following border reopenings, the report added. Foreign capital, absent since the onset of COVID, is expected to become more active over the next 12 months. Middle Eastern and Asian investors are likely to lead, with urban markets in Europe and select U.S. cities as primary recipients of capital.

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UK government has launched a Registered Traveller Service for the frequent travellers. So, if you are one of those people who need to travel to Britain every now and then, either for business or to visit their family, can escape the long waiting of immigration lines. Read the post here to know more advantages US travellers can get from this service.

THE BUSINESS TRAVEL revenue of U.S. hotels is expected to drop $20 billion this year, down 23 percent when compared to 2019, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Kalibri Labs. It is already reported that hotels lost an estimated $108 billion in business travel revenue during 2020 and 2021 combined. The report said that business travel revenue, the largest source of revenue in hotel industry, will take significantly longer to recover. However, leisure travel is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, the report added. "While dwindling COVID-19 case counts and relaxed CDC guidelines are providing a sense of optimism for reigniting travel, this report underscores how tough it will be for many hotels and hotel employees to recover from years of lost revenue," said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "The good news is that after two years of virtual work arrangements, Americans recognize the unmatched value of face-to-face meetings and say they are ready to start getting back on the road for business travel."

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."

U.S. HOTEL LEISURE travel revenue is projected to rise 14 percent this year over pre-pandemic levels and business travel revenue is expected to be within 1 percent of 2019 range, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Kalibri Labs. However, these projections are not adjusted for inflation, and real hotel revenue recovery may take many years, a statement said. Among the top 50 U.S. markets, 80 percent are projected to see hotel leisure travel revenue exceed 2019 levels, but just 40 percent are expected reach that milestone for business travel revenue. Many urban markets are yet to recover due to their dependence on business from events and group meetings, the report said. All markets in the top 10 are likely to report increase in leisure travel revenue except New York, Washington and San Francisco. Whereas, in business travel revenue only Orlando, Las Vegas and San Diego will end up this year in green among the top 10.

THE U.S. TRAVEL Association led a delegation of 11 travel industry leaders to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves on March 8 to discuss promoting safe business and professional travel to help recovery post COVID-19. Travel leaders also demanded additional H-2B, J-1 and other temporary work visas available to meet seasonal workforce During the roundtable, Graves voiced his support for the travel industry, saying the Commerce Department will bring "all tools to the table" to help overcome obstacles that remain to the normal resumption of business travel, a statement said. They discussed the reentry of urban office workers and its correlation to the restart of business travel as well as opportunities to attract global meetings, conventions and exhibitions to the country.

MORE THAN 260 travel industry and business organizations, such as the U.S. Travel Association, urged a repeal of the pre-departure testing requirement for vaccinated international air travelers. The requirement no longer makes sense in the current environment and discourages international travel at a time when a recent survey In a letter to White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, USTA and its cosigners noted that the economic costs associated with maintaining the measure are significant, with international travel spending 78 percent below 2019 levels. The letter stated that many foreign governments with similar infection, vaccination and hospitalization rates-including the UK, Germany and Canada-have already eliminated pre-departure testing requirements for vaccinated travelers.

APPROXIMATELY 61 PERCENT of Americans are set to travel overnight for leisure in the upcoming four months, with 34 percent anticipating an uptick in their leisure travels this summer compared to last year, according to a recent survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Additionally, around 31 percent of respondents plan to up their hotel stays this summer versus the previous one. Around 35 percent of Americans anticipate an overnight business trip within the next four months, with 16 percent planning to boost their business-related travel this summer compared to last summer, the survey conducted by Morning Consult found. Meanwhile, hotels remain the preferred lodging option for both business travelers, with 60 percent, and leisure travelers, with 46 percent, this summer, the survey revealed. The survey presents a positive outlook for hoteliers amid ongoing economic challenges like a nationwide labor shortage and high interest rates, AHLA said. However, it indicates that persistent inflation remains a significant obstacle to growth for hoteliers and other travel-related businesses.

THE U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION recently launched the Sustainable Travel Coalition to align the travel, transportation and technology sectors to create a more sustainable U.S. travel industry, a statement said. The coalition with nearly 60 member organizations will advise USTA on sustainability issues, opportunities and concerns within the industry. The long-term goals of the coalition include, showcasing innovative technologies and calling attention to the ongoing actions and leadership of travel professionals in the sustainability space, boosting industry goals and commitments to conservation, best practices, waste and emission reductions and both long- and short-term investments. It will also highlight why sustainability matters in the industry and play offense by identifying and promoting proactive policies and defend against harmful policies that slow progress or penalize the industry without progress. A policy committee will monitor regular progress and collaboration.

INTERNATIONAL INBOUND TRAVEL is expected to slow down in the fall after surging over the summer, according to the latest U.S. Travel Association forecast. USTA also expects it may take until 2025 for the travel segment to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Inbound travel recovery picked up in summer and reached a pre-pandemic high of 35 percent below 2019 levels in July 2022, said U.S. Travel Association. It improved from a 41 percent decrease in May and declines of more than 50 percent earlier in 2022. The latest report by Aaron Szyf, economist, USTA, said that inbound travel recovery continued from Europe and Latin America in the past few months, which was 22 percent below 2019 levels in July. Meanwhile, Asian markets declined 66 percent in July, largely due to stagnation from China and a very slow return from Japan.

Savvy travelers have long known that the best deals on flights, hotels, and cruises are often available at the last moment. So how can you take advantage of last minute travel bargains? All you need is a bit of free time, a valid passport, and the know-how to get a great bargain on last minute travel. Read on the article for our top tips.

Savvy travelers have long known that the best deals on flights, hotels, and cruises are often available at the last moment. So how can you take advantage of last minute travel bargains? All you need is a bit of free time, a valid passport, and the know-how to get a great bargain on last minute travel. Read on the article for our top tips.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S new National Travel and Tourism Strategy sets a 5-year goal of attracting 90 million international visitors to the U.S. each year. Two major associations in the U.S. hospitality industry applauded the strategy as a step forward in restoring the travel industry. The new tourism strategy aims to support broad-based economic growth in the travel and tourism industry across the U.S. AAHOA thanked the U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and the Tourism Policy Council for their continued leadership and support. "[An expected] 90 million international visitors will drive strong economic growth," said Laura Lee Blake, president and CEO, AAHOA. "The $279 billion in annual estimated spending by these visitors will help not only the hotel and hospitality industry, but also the entire American economy. We commend Secretary Raimondo's new National Travel and Tourism Strategy, and welcome her efforts to aggressively rebuild U.S. travel and tourism."

TripHobo Travel Destinations: Explore Popular destinations, Things to do, Place to visit, Eat outs, Travel tips, Guides - inspiration from the travel experts

TripHobo Travel Destinations: Explore Popular destinations, Things to do, Place to visit, Eat outs, Travel tips, Guides - inspiration from the travel experts