Home or away: Know how far your audience want to venture

Now’s not the time to put the brakes on your domestic vacations strategy

With international travel back on the cards, it’s time to divert your focus away from domestic vacations, right? Not so fast. Domestic vacations are showing no sign of slowing down. Around 90% of consumers say they plan to take a domestic vacation in the next 12 months.

So, what do you need to know about staycation planners?

  • Gen Z and millennials are the most likely of all generations to book a domestic vacation, so pay special attention to this segment in your marketing.
  • When it comes to what domestic vacationers are seeking for their staycations, nature, beach/coast, and visiting family/friends come out on top, suggesting it’s peace and quiet, and quality time that they’re craving the most.
  • Close to 60% of domestic vacation planners say their top reason to holiday closer to home is to enjoy themselves or relax, and after two and a half years of chaos, who could blame them?

90

of consumers say they plan to take a domestic vacation in the next 12 months

R&R is top of the agenda

% of domestic vacation planners who say the following are the main reasons to take a vacation in their country

That’s not to say you should forget about international vacations

While domestic vacations are hugely popular, international vacations are still coming in hot.

In fact, two-thirds of consumers intend to take a vacation abroad in the next 12 months, so overseas trips are still very much en-vogue.

Out of all generations, millennials are the most likely to book an international vacation, with close to three-quarters saying they’re planning a trip abroad in the next 12 months.

Like domestic travelers, those planning international vacations are in search of some R&R, but what sets them apart is their desire to experience a new place/culture.

This is a particular pull for Gen Zs and millennials, coming out as their top reason for traveling abroad.

 

2/3 of consumers intend to take a vacation abroad in the next 12 months

Pay attention to millennials; they’re really pushing the boat out

With many of them entering a new phase of their lives with more disposable income in their back pockets, many millennials aren’t holding back when it comes to splashing the cash.

Not only do some millennials have more money to play with, but they’re also way out in front of other generations for saying vacations are very/extremely important to them (42% of millennials say this). This might help to explain why some millennials are keen to splurge on trips away and make up for lost time.

Just under 1 in 5 millennials say they look for top range options when booking a vacation, and around 3 in 10 millennial vacationers say they tend to buy the premium version of products, making them a key segment for luxury travel operators to target.

Treat yo'self: millennials more likely to splurge

% of vacationers who say they're likely to spend extra on the following to treat themselves (sorted by over-index against everyone else)

And, it’s not just during the booking process where millennials are flexing their spending power. For some, it’s luxury all the way.

  • Millennials are more likely than other generations to say they’d pay more for flights/travel, so expect them to be a key market for premium upgrades.
  • Many like to start off their trip with a little pick-me-up with 31% saying they’ll spend extra on duty-free shopping as a treat for themselves.
  • During their vacation, millennials are more likely than any other generation to indulge in a spa treatment or massage. 23% say they enjoy doing this.

Millennials are more likely than other generations to say they’d pay more for flights/travel

Nail your social media strategy if you want to reel in younger travelers

It’s all flip flops and TikTok for Gen Z

Want to make a splash with younger holidaymakers? It’s time to upgrade your social media strategy.

Social media has a significant impact on Gen Z vacationers - a staggering 60% say social media influences their decision about where to go.

But it’s not just for travel inspiration that Gen Z use social media. They’re 39% more likely than everyone else to use it for research and planning as part of the booking stage, which suggests informative content on hotels, restaurants and things to do is a sure-fire way to get their attention.

Ads on social and influencer content are also more likely to strike a cord with younger consumers, so consider incorporating this into your social media strategy if Gen Z is a key target for your brand.

Interestingly, it’s not just influencer content and celebrities that leave an impression on Gen Z. Their own family and friends’ experiences, whether it’s recommendations or posts/photos on social, also significantly influence their decisions about where to go on vacation, suggesting they lean heavily on the opinions of those closest to them.

The power of social media cannot be underestimated. If your brand is serious about making waves, now is the time to make social front and center of your plans, and double down on your investment.

34

increase in Gen Z TikTok users since 2020 outside of China

Gen Z vacationers are 44% more likely than everyone else to say they're influenced by social media posts

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Help your customers book with confidence

 

Reviews > sea views

After two years of major disruption and pent-up demand, travelers want to make sure they’re making the right decisions when it comes to booking their long-awaited vacations.

And with the cost of living crisis taking its toll, they certainly don’t want to waste their money by booking the wrong accommodation or travel provider. According to our Zeitgeist data from July 2022, 36% of consumers are price-conscious about vacations.

Free cancellation and hygiene standards are must-haves

% of vacationers who say, if booking a vacation tomorrow, the following factors would be important to them

31

of Gen Z say reviews from other people matter most to them when booking accommodation

So how do you entice the money-cautious traveler?

  • Give them reassurance. Reviews and flexible booking cancellations can serve as a welcome safety blanket for travelers who want to book without regrets. 38% say free cancellation/rebooking is important, so ensuring your booking policies are flexible and fair could help you win over more customers.
  • Listen to what they want. Brand loyalty is fragile - two-thirds of vacationers say they shop around by comparing deals/prices between different booking sites or with the hotel sites directly, so you’ll need to do more to get travelers on side. Respond to online reviews, act on customer feedback and incentivize previous customers to share positive stories about their experience if you want to entice new customers.

Over 1/4 of vacationers say they use consumer review sites to research/plan their vacations

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Get ready for the next trending destinations

Keep tabs on who’s going where

Knowing who’s planning vacations where, and importantly, when they’re planning to go is crucial for nailing your strategy.

Let’s say you’re a travel board for Canada planning your upcoming campaigns for the next calendar year.

You need to know how to tailor your campaigns, who to target, and where to amplify your message if your marketing is going to land.

Insights on which generations are most interested in visiting Canada, when they’re most likely to travel, which activities they like to do on vacation, and how far in advance they tend to plan their trip, will give you invaluable insight in how to position your campaign for maximum impact.

Throw in some key insights on their social media usage and where they go for vacation inspiration, and you’ve got a winning formula.

2/5

vacationers say they book accommodation or transport for longer vacations at least 3-6 months or more in advance

The Caribbean is the top destination among international vacation planners in NorthAm

Hottest trending destinations

Rank based on % of international vacationers planners in the following regions who say they're considering visiting these countries in the next 12 months

Don't make assumptions about the spending power of baby boomers

50

of baby boomers say free cancellation/rebooking is important to them if they were booking a trip tomorrow

Baby boomers have a keen eye for a deal

While statistically, baby boomers are 30% more likely than everyone else to fall into the high-income bracket, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the biggest spenders.

In fact, boomer vacationers are ahead of other generations for saying they’re price-conscious (just over half say this).

They’re no strangers to sniffing out the best deals. When it comes to thinking about travel services, baby boomers scored highest of all generations for saying value for money and competitive price are important - so if there’s a deal to be had, it’s likely they’ll want it.

They’re also the most likely of all generations to shop around for deals, so put your best foot forward when it comes to competitive pricing if you want them to book with you.

But competing on price isn’t possible or desirable for everyone. Fortunately, there’s other ways you can incentivize.

Just over half of this group also say they use loyalty/reward programs – at least 10 percentage points higher than other generations, so this could be an effective way to get them onside.

And if this isn’t an option, hark back to nailing the basics, focusing on what matters most to baby boomers: free cancellation/rebooking and hygiene standards. These two attributes came out higher for baby boomers than for any other generation. Putting these front and center of your strategy could help to increase the value they place on your offering, and set you apart from competitors.

57% of baby boomers say value-for-money is important to them when it comes to travel services

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More resources

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The vacationer dilemma: revenge travel vs travel chaos

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The consumer dilemma: Fighting the urge to splurge in the cost of living crisis

Infographic

Social media use by generation