April 19, 2021
For some older Americans, securing a Covid-19 vaccine appointment is quickly followed by their next booking: for a long-awaited trip.
The New York Times reports those over 65, among the first to be vaccinated, are initiating a new surge in travel bookings. Hotels and resorts in places like Hawaii, the Florida Keys and Asheville, N.C. are seeing big increases in reservations made by seniors or bookings at senior rates.
A survey by travel agency network Virtuoso revealed more than 8 in 10 respondents 77 or older are more ready to travel in 2021 than they were last year. About 95% of that age group said they’d wait to travel until they were vaccinated.
“The 65-plus demographic is losing out on their golden years and they’re understandably eager to get back out there,” Conor Goodwin, corporate marketing manager for Charlestowne Hotels, told The New York Times.
It’s not just older generations. The American Society of Travel Advisors found 87% of people plan to travel this summer, per NPR. That’s welcome news to the U.S. travel industry, as hotels, airlines, theme parks, car rental companies and other businesses counting on tourism have together lost more than $500 billion since March 2020, according to the U.S. Travel Association.
“I think there is an incredible amount of pent-up demand,” Kendra Thornton, president and owner of Royal Travel & Tours in the Chicago area, told NPR. “People are tired of being at home. We hear that over and over when we speak to clients. They want something to look forward to.”
Thornton expressed cautious optimism for 2021 and expects “a tsunami” of business in 2022. Travel industry experts are hoping the vaccine will motivate people to book a trip and pack their bags once again, since more than half of Americans haven’t taken any trips since the pandemic began, according to a poll of 1,300 people in late January by The Points Guy.
Half of those surveyed said their willingness to receive the vaccine is at least partly influenced by their desire to travel. More than one-quarter said travel was a major driver in their decision to get the vaccine.
One-third said they have at least one trip planned this year, and most trips are planned between April and September. Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of luxury travel agency Embark Beyond, told The Points Guy about half of his clients who’ve booked summer trips have Covid-19 antibodies or have been vaccinated, while the other half are assuming they’ll be vaccinated by summer.
Road trips remain preferable to flying. About one-third of Americans are likely to travel by car out-of-state (35%) or in-state (32%), while 15% of Americans are likely to take an international flight after being vaccinated, and 27% said the same for a domestic flight. Just 8% are likely to go on a cruise after being vaccinated, per The Points Guy.
About 30% said they’d be fine staying in a hotel if they received the vaccine, and 14% said the same for staying in an Airbnb or VRBO rental.
One-third said they wouldn’t be comfortable with any travel even after receiving the vaccine, per The Points Guy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains travel increases the risk of contracting and spreading Covid-19, and health officials say those who’ve been vaccinated should continue to wear masks and social distance.
This also comes as cruise lines extend their pauses in U.S. ports. Carnival Cruises made their announcement Wednesday to cancel any cruises through the end of May.
Article originally published in https://www.bizjournals.com/
Important update regarding our operations in the U.S. through May 31, 2021. If you’d like to check if your sailing has been impacted please visit https://t.co/5QvOwR7ZzC. pic.twitter.com/dYPbkEhp2A
— Carnival Cruise Line (@CarnivalCruise) February 24, 2021
