Tripadvisor Reveals Fall Travel Index: For Americans, Florida's Recovery Bolstered by Improved Searches for Hotel Bookings

Rhea-AI Summary

Tripadvisor, the largest travel platform, released its Seasonal Travel Index for Fall, indicating that 65% of travelers are planning domestic trips this autumn. Notably, 79% of these trips are scheduled for September, marking it as the peak month. Outdoor adventures have surged, with 61% preferring nature trips, while beach destinations in Florida, particularly Key Largo, lead the recovery. Short getaways are favored, with 55% booking stays of 2-5 nights. Safety and cleanliness remain top priorities for 68% of travelers globally.

Positive

• 65% of travelers planning domestic trips this fall.
• 79% of those trips are planned for September, indicating robust interest.
• 61% of travelers prefer outdoor or nature trips, reflecting changing preferences.
• Key Largo is leading the recovery in hotel bookings year-over-year.

Negative

• Travel remains down year-over-year despite recovery signs.
• Safety concerns still weigh heavily on 68% of global travelers.

NEEDHAM, Mass., Sept. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel platform, today released findings from its Seasonal Travel Index for Fall, providing travelers with insight into where Americans are traveling this autumn as tourism markets continue their path to recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent Tripadvisor site data shows that globally, domestic travel for the fall season (September 1 - November 30, 2020) continues to gradually recover, with nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of all travelers planning domestic fall getaways. Of those travelers, 79 percent of them are planning a September trip - the busiest fall travel month.¹

Outdoor adventures, which have gained popularity since the beginning of the pandemic, are continuing to interest travelers this fall. In fact, 61 percent of U.S. travelers are more likely to consider outdoor or nature trips and 54 percent are more likely to consider road trips now, compared to before the pandemic².

Fall Travel Trends:

• Most popular: Key Largo, Fla. is leading year-over-year recovery in the U.S. this fall. While travel is still down year-over-year (YoY), the Sunshine State is home to several destinations that are recovering the quickest YoY this season based on searches for hotel bookings.
• Destination type: Domestic travelers are more keen to visit beach destinations, and are less interested in central city getaways. While Florida and Arizona have always been popular destinations, there is significant year-over-year increase in travelers planning to visit this fall.
• Trip length: Travelers are looking for short getaways with 55 percent of fall travelers booking two to five night stays, and 36 percent booking short one-night stays.
• Last-minute travel: Fall travelers are booking more near-term trips, often less than a week in advance
• Safety first: Across the globe, safety remains critical. Sixty-eight percent of global travelers say safety and cleanliness of establishments are important when traveling locally.

"Among all of the disruption and restrictions this year, 76 percent of U.S. travelers continue to say that travel is important to them, even if they can't experience the world like they used to," said Christopher Hsi, Consumer Market Research Lead Analyst for Tripadvisor. "The pandemic has forced travelers to be creative and explore new destinations in ways they may not have considered previously. This fall, we're seeing a rise in destinations where travelers can relax and rejuvenate, as opposed to the busy hustle and bustle of popular cities."

Top U.S. Destinations for Fall 2020, based on year-over-year growth for domestic hotel bookings
Beach destinations across the U.S. gain interest and jump in rank year-over-year.

1. Key Largo, Fla.
2. Key West, Fla.
3. Atlantic City, N.J.
4. St. Pete Beach, Fla.
5. Myrtle Beach, S.C.
6. Sedona, Ariz.
7. Scottsdale, Ariz.
8. Clearwater, Fla.
9. San Diego, Calif.
10. Savannah, Ga.

Other travel insights:

• Travelers are more budget conscious: Domestic travelers across the globe are searching for hotel stays less expensive than last year.
• While more travelers are viewing luxurious resorts and all-inclusive properties, campgrounds and farmhouses are recovering the fastest year on year.
• Traveling with your pet is an amenity with promising signs of recovery, and supporting the outdoor trend, hiking is recovering faster than any other amenities offered by hotels across the world year on year.
• Accommodation style: While hotels make up the majority of interest due to size, Bed & Breakfasts have shown continuously stronger recovery year-over-year. Quaint, romantic and charming hotel properties over-index in the U.S.

Methodology

1. Fall travel trends based on Tripadvisor platform hotel search and booking data for fall stays (September 1 - November 30, 2020), ending week of August 24-30, 2020. 
2. Tripadvisor Traveler Sentiment Survey of 1,447 respondents in the U.S., UK, Italy, Australia, Japan and Singapore from August 31 - September 2, 2020.

About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel platform*, helps 463 million travelers each month** make every trip their best trip. Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to browse more than 867 million reviews and opinions of 8.7 million accommodations, restaurants, experiences, airlines and cruises. Whether planning or on a trip, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to compare low prices on hotels, flights and cruises, book popular tours and attractions, as well as reserve tables at great restaurants. Tripadvisor, the ultimate travel companion, is available in 49 markets and 28 languages.

The subsidiaries and affiliates of Tripadvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites and businesses, including the following travel media brands:

www.bokun.io, www.cruisecritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.bookatable.co.uk, and www.delinski.com), www.helloreco.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk,  www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.seatguru.com, www.singleplatform.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.

*   Source: Jumpshot for Tripadvisor Sites, worldwide, November 2019
** Source: Tripadvisor internal log files, average monthly unique visitors, Q3 2019

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SOURCE Tripadvisor

FAQ

What did Tripadvisor reveal about fall travel trends for 2020?

Tripadvisor's Seasonal Travel Index indicates 65% of travelers plan domestic trips this fall, with a focus on outdoor and beach destinations.

Which U.S. destination is leading the recovery according to Tripadvisor?

Key Largo, Florida, is leading year-over-year recovery in hotel bookings this fall.

What percentage of travelers are booking trips for September?

79% of travelers planning domestic fall getaways are scheduling trips for September.

How important is safety to travelers this fall according to Tripadvisor?

68% of global travelers prioritize safety and cleanliness when planning local travel.

What travel patterns are emerging for fall 2020?

Travelers are favoring short getaways, with 55% booking stays of 2-5 nights and showing increased interest in outdoor adventures.