A new survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) shows that U.S. leisure travelers are planning to significantly cut down their travel plans amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases. According to the survey, 69 percent are planning to take fewer trips, 55 percent are planning to postpone existing travel plans and 42 percent are likely to cancel existing plans without rescheduling. Nearly three in four (72 percent) are likely to only travel to places within driving distance.
The survey of 2,200 adults was conducted August between 11-12, 2021. Of these, 1,707 people, or 78 percent of respondents, were leisure travelers—that is, those who indicated they may travel for leisure in 2021. While 69 percent of leisure travelers said they are likely to take fewer trips, 65 percent said they are likely to take shorter trips.
Of those surveyed, 42 percent said they are likely to cancel existing travel plans with no plans to reschedule, while 55 percent are likely to postpone existing travel plans until a later date. The survey also showed an inclination to stay close to home or travel in small groups, with 72 percent saying they are likely to only travel to places they can drive to and 70 percent saying they are likely to travel with smaller groups.
“With COVID-19 cases rising and travel concerns mounting as we enter the fall and winter months, the hotel industry is at a pivotal point. Unless Congress acts, pandemic-related travel reductions will continue to threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of hotel workers,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA, in the report. “For over a year, hotel employees and small business owners across the nation have been asking Congress for direct pandemic relief. This data underscores why it’s time for Congress to act.”
Recently released AHLA survey results show that business travelers are also scaling back their travel plans amid rising COVID-19 cases with 67 percent planning to take fewer trips, 52 percent likely to cancel existing travel plans without rescheduling, and 60 percent planning to postpone existing travel plans.
Hotels are said to be the only segment of the hospitality and leisure industry yet to receive direct aid despite being among the hardest hit. That is why AHLA and UNITE HERE, the largest hospitality workers’ union in North America, joined forces to call on Congress to pass the bipartisan “Save Hotel Jobs Act” introduced by Senator Brian Schatz and Rep. Charlie Crist. This legislation would provide a lifeline to hotel workers, providing the assistance they need to survive until travel returns to pre-pandemic levels.
Source: AHLA
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