“Spontaneity” will be the word of the year for 2021 travelers, according to Hotels.com. That would be because a new global study conducted by the company revealed that 89 percent of U.S. travelers intend to be more impulsive than ever, following 2020's cancelled trips, boredom and all-around “year of nothing.”
The report from Hotels.com, “The 2021 Upgrade,” showed that 32 percent are dubbing 2020 the “lost year” for travel, prompting more than one-third (35 percent) to be more likely to drop everything to vacation if they can in 2021. Hotels.com's booking data supports this, with almost half of bookings in June 2020 (when lockdown rules eased for the first time for many) being made three or fewer days from the time of search.
Further, over one-quarter (28 percent) of respondents revealed they would say “yes” to more last-minute trips in 2021. The report adds that all rules are out the window: One in four (26 percent) said they would take off on a long-haul trip for just a few days or make no plans for the trip in favor of being spontaneous when they arrive (25 percent). A further 17 percent will be booking a five-star hotel for their 2021 getaways.
Experts at Hotels.com also predict this extravagant attitude will have a dramatic impact on hotel booking behavior. Compared to pre-pandemic times one-quarter (26 percent) would now book a better hotel room, and another quarter (24 percent) would spontaneously say “yes” to a room upgrade if offered when booking.
Dear Hotel, We Miss You
Echoing the above, one-quarter of people said the thing they miss most about traveling is being able to stay in an awesome hotel. They have been missing relaxing in a plush robe (13 percent), the peace and quiet (30 percent), breakfast buffets (23 percent), hotel restaurants and bars (29 percent), rooms with a view (26 percent), ordering room service (18 percent), visiting the hotel pool (20 percent), treating themselves to the hotel spa (17 percent) and the hotel bed (18 percent).
This craving means travelers will take a different approach to hotel bookings in 2021, according to Hotels.com; it will be all about upgrading the experience. When asked what new experiences they would say “yes” to, one in five (20 percent) would splurge on a spa treatment, uber-luxe hotel restaurant (20 percent) or a fancy cocktail in the hotel's bar (24 percent).
Travelers will also be finding ways to “seize the stay” as much as they can, with nearly one in four saying they would spontaneously book a fancy hotel for a staycation for the weekend (24 percent) or take advantage of a mid-week deal in their local trendy hotel (23 percent).
The Rise in Spontaneous Travel
To plan or not to plan? Travelers want to be carefree and relaxed by making spontaneous decisions (32 percent), not having to plan and just doing what they wanted (28 percent) and saying “yes” to new experiences (24 percent).
Travel-hungry hotel-lovers are ready to commit to spontaneity, with 29 percent claiming they'd be ready to drop everything and leave the same day if given the opportunity. With spontaneity comes packing pressure. Most would go nowhere without their digital lifelines, with over half (55 percent) prioritizing their phone, laptop and charger—beating out a change of clothes (46 percent), a swimsuit (29 percent) and sleepwear (30 percent).
Research was conducted by One Poll in December 2020; there were 1,000 respondents across the United States. Statistics from Hotels.com booking data was pulled on December 10, 2020.
Source: Hotels.com
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