Deloitte: Holiday Travel is Cleared for Takeoff

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2023 —

Key takeaways

• Travel continues to soar: About half (48%) of Americans intend to travel this holiday season. Intent to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January is up across all age and income groups with an average holiday budget of $2,725.
  
• More than half (56%) of holiday travelers plan to stay in hotels, up from 35% in 2022.
• Boomers are returning to travel with a bang as they form nearly one-third of those planning to take to the roads and skies; they constituted just one-fifth of the traveling public over the holidays in 2022.
• Citing improved financial situation, younger generations plan to increase travel budgets this holiday season with 1 in 4 in Gen Z saying they will significantly increase their budgets, the highest portion of any generation. Twenty-two percent of millennials also plan to significantly increase their holiday travel budget this season.
• Laptop luggers continue to be a fixture on leisure travel; for this holiday season, they plan to travel more frequently and take longer trips.

Why this matters

Americans are ready to travel for the holidays. For the third consecutive year, Deloitte explores travel intent ahead of the pivotal holiday season and the overall impact on the travel industry. According to this year’s report, “2023 Deloitte Holiday Travel Survey,” concerns about health and travel delays are diminished as consumers across income groups map out trips to make this holiday season a memorable one.

Holiday travel takes off again

Nearly half (48%) of Americans intend to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, with a larger share taking trips beyond only visiting family and friends. Desire to keep traditions alive may convince travelers to pack their bags, though many are evaluating how often, and for how long, they head out this season.

• While more Americans intend to travel, they will take fewer trips (1.88 in 2023 vs. 2.01 in 2022) that are shorter in duration (75% say their longest trip will last one week or less vs. 69% in 2022), but plan to spend more this year ($2,725 in 2023). With fewer trips planned, travel concentrates around two major holidays: Thanksgiving through the end of November (33%) and Christmas through New Year’s Eve (27%). Trips get longer farther into the holiday season.
• Holiday travelers are keen to connect with loved ones: 58% say time with friends and family is the top motivator for their longest trip this season. Another 51% seek rest and relaxation. While both are often big travel motivators, travelers put a greater emphasis on these factors during the holidays than in the summer.
• Boomers are traveling again: They constituted just one-fifth (21%) of the traveling public over the holidays in 2022; this year the group will make up 29% of travelers. Boomers also tend to spend more per trip compared to Gen Z and Millennials.
• Younger generations plan to take more trips and to spend more across the season: Gen Z travelers plan an average of 2.1 trips over the holidays, a close second to millennials at 2.2. One in 4 Gen Z travelers say they will significantly increase their budgets year-over-year, the highest portion of any generation.
• About 1 in 5 travelers (18%) say they are spending significantly less on holiday travel than last year. The same share of travelers (18%) plan to spend significantly more this season. Financial concerns are the main reason travelers will spend less, while higher prices are the top factor they plan to spend more.
• For those not traveling, finances are the top deterrent (38%). Health and disruption worries are lower on the list, cited by only 11% of non-travelers each (compared to 18% in 2022) and indicating that the concerns of prior years may be leveling out.

Travelers pack away some pandemic-era preferences

Some preferences that saw a surge during the pandemic are declining as travelers plan to return to hotels and international destinations in greater numbers. As Americans return to travel’s new normal, the influence of younger generations is growing, elevating the role of social media in trip planning.

• Hotels are back in a big way, as 56% of holiday travelers plan to book a stay at some point this holiday season, up from 35% in 2022. Preference for private rentals remains flat at 15%.
• More than one-third (37%) of travelers will take a flight at least once during the holiday season. Meanwhile, about half (53%) of American travelers are planning road trips, down from nearly two- thirds (64%) in 2021.
• While 26% of air travelers will fly to international destinations, overseas travel makes up a bigger share of travel in early January compared to the rest of the season. International travelers are also more likely to stay in paid lodging (73% in hotels and 28% in private rentals for at least part of their longest holiday trip), as 1 in 5 say they are making up for trips they missed out on due to the pandemic. International travelers are more likely to rely on social media to select their travel destinations (52% vs. 39% domestic travelers) as well as social content like apps, videos, travel websites and Generative AI.
• Participation in travel activities is up across most categories year-over-year, including visiting a major attraction (43% in 2023 vs. 36% in 2022) and attending a ticketed event such as a concert or festival (30% in 2023 vs. 23% in 2022).
• Gen Z and millennials lead in efforts to travel more sustainably, particularly when it comes to prioritizing hotels with higher sustainability ratings (23% and 25%, respectively), which is the most popular environmentally conscious travel choice.

Key quote

The travel industry is reaching its cruising altitude this holiday season. Spending time with family and friends is even more important during the holidays, and Americans are embracing this tradition as they pack away many of the concerns that impacted plans last year. Travel providers who deliver memorable experiences during the holidays will have the opportunity to further engage travelers looking to plan additional trips in the new year.

—    Mike Daher, vice chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. transportation, hospitality and services non-attest leader

For remote workers, it’s a holly jolly season for travel

Many remote workers continue to take advantage of flexible office arrangements to extend and enhance their holiday travel experiences. One in 3 travelers (34%) say they are likely to work on their longest trip of the holiday season. These “laptop luggers” skew young and wealthy compared to overall travelers.

• Laptop-lugging rates among higher-income travelers increased by 30% year-over-year, while lower-income travelers are half as likely to bring work with them as they were last year.
• Laptop luggers continue to take more, longer trips throughout the season: They plan for 2.3 trips on average, with their longest trip extended by four days due to remote work. On average, travelers will add five travel days across the holiday season if able to work remotely.
• While working on their holiday season trip, laptop luggers are most concerned about separating work from leisure (53%) and maintaining productivity (41%).
• Travelers planning to work during their longest holiday trip also set themselves apart with higher budgets for both the overall season and their longest trip, and plan to splurge on upgraded airfare and lodging.

Key quote

Showing a lot of enthusiasm for travel, Americans are taking advantage of all the joy that the season has to offer. Boomers and Gen Z are set to have a particularly strong impact on the industry. Overall, more travelers plan to stay in hotels during the holidays, instead of just visiting family and friends. What’s more, laptop luggers continue to leverage flexible work arrangements to make the most of the holiday season, creating new and memorable opportunities for travelers and providers alike.

—    Eileen Crowley, vice chair, U.S. transportation, hospitality and services attest leader, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Deloitte’s “2023 Holiday Travel Survey” is based on a survey of 5,281 Americans fielded between Sept. 12 - 25. Of these, 2,531 respondents who are planning to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January qualified as holiday travelers. 

Connect with us on Twitter at @DeloitteUS or LinkedIn @MikeDaher and @EileenCrowley.

About Deloitte

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