Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2016) – With summer upon us, vacations are in sight – a lot of them. A new survey conducted by GfK Custom Research and commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) found that nearly three fourths (73%) of American travelers are planning a vacation this year – and they are willing to spend just as much, if not more, on it this year than last year.

The survey found that an overwhelming majority (83%) of travelers plan on spending an amount equal to or more than last year, with 72 percent planning to spend somewhere between $1,000-$5,000 or more on their vacation. Annually, consumer spending on travel and leisure amounts to some $660 billion alone.

The survey revealed a vast majority (80%) of vacationers will travel somewhere in the United States, and the most popular types of vacations were found to be road trips (22%) and beach vacations (18%). 

In order to ensure consumers, get what they want and need out of their vacation, AH&LA recommends that consumers book directly with the hotel to ensure the best deal and most seamless experience.
 

Reward Yourself with Rewards 

The survey found that over half (54%) of Americans who have booked hotel rooms in the past year participate in a rewards or loyalty program, with the vast majority (84%) satisfied with them. 

Of those travelers participating in rewards programs, the most (70%) common reason was to accumulate points for free rooms and a majority (60%) confirmed they have saved money by being a member. 

METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted online using the GfK “KnowledgePanel,” an online probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. general population, not just the online population. The study consisted of 1,017 interviews conducted between April 22-24, 2016 among adults aged 18+, including 479 defined as travelers (or those who have booked at least one hotel in the last year). The margin of error is +/-3 percentage points. GfK is the fourth largest market research firm in the world.

The study, commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), was administered in an effort to better understand consumer choice and booking habits. For more information on the deceptive practices of online booking sites and consumers tips please visit www.ahla.com.

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Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the 1.9 million-employee U.S. lodging industry, including hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides focused advocacy, communications support, and educational resources for an industry of more than 53,000 properties generating $176 billion in annual sales from 5 million guestrooms.