IHG Hotels & Resorts reveals new data about the U.S. summer vacation in 2020

Rhea-AI Summary

IHG Hotels & Resorts reports on the rise of 'staycations' during the summer of 2020 due to pandemic travel restrictions. According to new data, more than half of travelers stayed within 300km of home, with 85% traveling by car. IHG noted a shift towards rural destinations, with the Florida Panhandle and West Texas becoming popular. Despite pandemic challenges, the proportion of business and leisure bookings remained stable from June to August 2020. Additionally, booking lead times shortened significantly, with 63% booked within two days of arrival, emphasizing the need for flexibility.

Positive

• More than half of guests stayed in hotels within driving distance (300km) of their homes.
• 85% of guests traveled by car to their destinations.
• Stable proportion of business and leisure bookings from June to August 2020.
• Introduction of flexible booking options, including Book Now, Pay Later.

Negative

• Traveling among individuals aged 65 and above dropped from 18% in 2019 to 15% in 2020 due to pandemic concerns.

ATLANTA, Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Staycation' was undoubtedly the travel buzzword of 2020. With travel restrictions limiting people jetting off to far-flung destinations for some of the summer months this year, Americans looked to explore what was on their very own doorstep more so than ever before.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, which includes brands such as Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites and Kimpton, reveals new data about the 2020 U.S. summer staycation and the impact on hotel bookings.

Brian Hicks, SVP Commercial and Revenue Management, IHG Hotels & Resorts commented on the findings; "People are as eager as ever to travel, but the pandemic has understandably changed priorities when travelling. With enhanced cleaning measures through our IHG Way of Clean program and more flexible booking policies, people have continued traveling this summer, with many opting for a staycation in the U.S."

• Home is where the heart is – with international travel restrictions in place this summer, domestic travel was understandably the option of choice, with people choosing to explore closer to home. More than half stayed in hotels within driving distance (300km) of their home, whereas the other half explored further afield within the U.S. 85% of guests also chose to travel to their destination by car.
• The ruralization of travel – During the summer of 2020, the Florida Panhandle made IHG Hotels & Resorts' top 10 leisure destinations, and West Texas, the Carolina Coast, and Atlanta rose in the rankings too, while big cities dropped down the list. According to Brian Hicks, "With a resurgence of more rural domestic travel, we've definitely seen travellers developing a greater appreciation for exploring the small towns and cities in their backyards. This rediscovery of the beauty that can be found in places that may otherwise have been overlooked will likely continue when travel resumes to pre-pandemic levels."
• A hotel (almost) never sleeps – The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the everyday lives of billions of people globally, severely damaging economies and posing the biggest challenge the travel industry has ever faced. Despite many people putting their life on hold and some businesses coming to a halt, for IHG Hotels & Resorts the proportion of business and leisure bookings was similar in June – August 2020 compared to previous years, in part due to due to rooms being booked by housing frontline workers and other emergency services. Brian Hicks commented that, "All around the world, from China to the U.S., we've worked closely with various organizations, governments and our hotel owners to assist our first responders and others in need by providing accommodations in hundreds of our hotels globally."
• Spontaneity is key – With so much uncertainty and regularly changing restrictions, hotel booking lead times have shortened compared to previous years. 63% of bookings happened within 2 days of stay, compared to 39% during the same period last year. IHG Hotels & Resorts introduced flexible booking options such as Book Now, Pay Later to give travelers enhanced peace of mind and the flexibility they need.|

Booking window	2020	2019
0-2 days	63%	39%
3-7 days	19%	19%
8-90 days	22%	39%

• Age is more than a number – The number of 65-year olds and above travelling dropped from 18% in 2019 to 15% in 2020 (March to August). Given the nature of the virus and the recommendations for older populations, unsurprisingly, older guests saw the steepest decline in activity during the peak of COVID-19 in April. Since then, while other age groups have witnessed a steady recovery, it's much stronger among younger guests (35 years old and below).

NOTES TO EDITORS

Based on US IHG Hotels & Resorts Bookings from June – August 2020, unless otherwise stated.

About IHG^®

IHG^® (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental^® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton^® Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo^®, EVEN^® Hotels, HUALUXE^® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza^® Hotels & Resorts, voco™, Holiday Inn^® Hotels & Resorts , Holiday Inn Express^®, Holiday Inn Club Vacations^®, avid™ hotels, Staybridge Suites^®, Atwell Suites™, and Candlewood Suites^®.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,900 hotels and approximately 883,000 guest rooms in more than 100 countries, with over 1,900 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG^® Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 400,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/news-and-media and follow us on social media at: https://twitter.com/ihgcorporate, www.facebook.com/ihgcorporate and www.linkedin.com/company/intercontinental-hotels-group.

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SOURCE IHG Hotels & Resorts

FAQ

What trends did IHG report regarding U.S. summer travel in 2020?

IHG reported a significant rise in 'staycations' due to travel restrictions, with many Americans traveling closer to home.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact IHG's hotel bookings?

Despite pandemic challenges, the proportion of business and leisure bookings remained similar from June to August 2020.

What percentage of bookings were made shortly before travel during summer 2020?

63% of bookings were made within two days of stay, a significant increase from 39% in 2019.

Which areas became popular for travel in the U.S. according to IHG?

The Florida Panhandle and rural destinations like West Texas and the Carolina Coast gained popularity.

What measures did IHG implement to adapt to changing travel behaviors?

IHG introduced flexible booking options to accommodate the uncertainty of travel restrictions.