Holiday and Multigenerational Travel Trends
2012-11-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Welcome to the November edition of TRAVEL GUARD UPDATE, a monthly review designed to provide you with up-to-date information on the latest travel trends. This month, we polled travel agents to learn about where their clients are traveling this holiday season, how they are getting there and who is coming along. Since the holidays are all about family, we inquired about clients’ multigenerational travel habits as well. We’ll also touch upon tips for traveling in the winter and how travel insurance came to the rescue during harrowing winter weather conditions.
Travel Guard invites your comments and suggestions on any areas you’d like to see covered in this regular update. E-mail your thoughts to us at aparry@mmgyglobal.com. For more information on our travel insurance programs, please visit www.TravelGuard.com.
In this month’s issue:
PULSE POLL: HOLIDAY & MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAVEL TRENDS
TRAVEL TIP: HELPING THE WHOLE FAMILY TRAVEL SAFELY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: ‘SNOWMAGEDDON’
Travel Guard recently polled travel agents to learn about their clients’ habits surrounding holiday travel and traveling with multiple generations of their families. Results are below.
Over the River and Through the Woods: The holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s is a popular time to take off, with 65% of agents responding that clients travel during this time period. According to agents, quite a few of their clients (42%) choose to stay with family or friends, with just as many (42%) opting to stay at a hotel or resort. Six percent of agents said that a vacation home or condo is the most popular lodging option, and 10% responded that clients are most likely to have other plans for accommodations, such as a cabin on a cruise ship.
Holiday Hijinks: Though the holidays are a time for cheer, spirits can be dampened if travel plans are derailed at the airport. Agents polled said that the biggest concern among clients flying during the holidays is overwhelmingly flight delays and cancellations (51%,) followed by the cost of airfare and accommodations (37%.) Though many airlines have instituted new priority seating policies over the past few years, only 7% of agents felt their clients were most concerned with securing seats for their whole family to sit together without extra charges. The very real potential during winter months for treacherous travel to and from the airport(4%) and long lines at the airport (2%) were of also of concern.
Flying High: Agents reported that clients are attempting to alleviate their concerns surrounding air travel in a number of ways, including booking nonstop travel to avoid missing connecting flights (25%,) booking travel as far in advance as possible (22%,) traveling outside of the dates with the highest demand (20%) and purchasing travel insurance specifically in response to these concerns. Driving rather than flying (10%) and traveling as early in the morning as possible (4%) were less popular options.
Family Matters: Not only are people traveling to see their families during the holidays, they are also traveling with them. Agents report that the majority of clients traveling during the holidays do so with a significant other (40%) or a multigenerational family (40%.) Only 11% of agents reported their clients are traveling only with their children during the holidays, and 5% are traveling with friends. Just 4% of agents had clients planning to travel solo during the holidays.
The More The Merrier: Not only are people traveling with multiple generations of their families during the holidays, they are doing so throughout the year, with agents reporting that 35% of clients take multigenerational trips at least once a year. There are also plenty of families taking multigenerational trips every 2-3 years (34%.) Much less common are those taking more than one trip a year (13%) or once every five years (12%.)
A Trip to Remember: Of agents polled, the vast majority (47%) said that clients take multigenerational trips to create memories, and others do so to visit with family members who live far away (24%.) Multigenerational trips are also common for grandparents who now have the time and disposable income to travel with their children and grandchildren (24%.) Something For Everyone: When planning a multigenerational trip, the majority of agents (67%) noted that the most important factor in selecting a destination was the availability of activities suitable for the whole family. Cost was less important (32%,) By and large, cruising was noted as the most popular type of multigenerational trip (47%,) followed by beach vacations (24%) and family reunions (11%.)
Planning for the Unexpected For the Whole Family: With multiple family members of varying ages traveling together, there’s always a chance for the unexpected, including illness and injury. However, while 26% of agents surveyed reported that their clients are more apt to purchase travel insurance when planning multigenerational trips than when traveling only with a significant other or friend, an overwhelming 63% of clients typically consider travel insurance regardless of whom they are traveling with.
TRAVEL TIP: HELPING THE WHOLE FAMILY TRAVEL SAFELY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
No matter if holiday travel consists of flying to visit relatives across the country or a Caribbean cruise for the whole brood, families are nearly guaranteed that traveling will be more hectic this time of year. Booking early, having flexible travel dates and taking nonstop flights are all ways to help ease the stress. Regardless of the amount of preparation put into place, travelers should always prepare for the unexpected.
Travel Guard’s Gold Plan is the ideal plan for the whole family, as it covers children 17 and under at no additional cost when traveling with an adult. This plan provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation and interruption, lost or damaged baggage, emergency evacuation and more.
To compare Travel Guard’s travel insurance and assistance service plans, visit www.TravelGuard.com.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: ‘SNOWMAGEDDON’
Joan K. and her husband of Bethesda, Md., were traveling in India during the winter of 2010, when the massive storm dubbed “Snowmageddon” hit the East Coast. Inclement weather disrupted flights for days, and they were told that their flight home couldn’t be rebooked until a week past their original departure date. Because Joan and her husband needed to get home much sooner than this, she called Travel Guard for help. Joan was immediately connected with an agent who worked with her to find alternative flights on a different airline leaving that same day. She received reimbursement for the new ticket promptly after submitting the necessary documentation.
“The people I spoke with couldn’t have been nicer or more competent,” said Joan. “This was the second time Travel Guard came to our rescue when we were abroad, and I wouldn’t travel without them!”
About Travel Guard
Travel Guard Worldwide, Inc., a Chartis company and worldwide leader in travel insurance and assistance, provides products and services to millions of travelers around the globe, including a wide range of emergency services through its wholly-owned assistance centers located in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Travel Guard helps leisure and business travelers alike solve problems and manage risks. Travel Guard’s global reach, unparalleled service quality and proven operational capabilities allows clients to receive best-in-class care. Travel Guard’s suite of technology platforms enables seamless integration with all major travel distribution systems and supplier channels. The travel insurance products marketed by Travel Guard are underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries and affiliates of Chartis Inc. For additional information, please visit our websites at www.travelguard.com and www.travelguard.ca.
The coverage listed here is for U.S. residents only. To learn more about coverage in Canada, please call 1-866-648-8422.
This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 175 Water Street, New York, NY 10038. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services provided by Travel Guard Group, Inc. (“Travel Guard”).
If you’d like more information about Travel Guard news, contact:
Carol Mueller
1.715.295.9123
Carol.Mueller@travelguard.com
Shannon Semmerling
1.715.295.0950
Shannon.Semmerling@travelguard.com
Ashley Norman / Anna Parry
MMGY Global
1.212.219.7560 ext 6777 / 6766
anorman@mmgyglobal.com
aparry@mmgyglobal.com
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