Marriott International’s newly released 'second annual U.S. summer travel trends' report reveals that travellers are favoring cities over beaches in summer 2018 and planning to take an average of two trips. The report also reveals that among families with children, it’s becoming more common for the kids to pick the destination.
“Pack your walking shoes because for the second year in a row, city destinations are at the top of travelers’ lists,” said Brian King, global officer, digital, distribution & global sales, Marriott International.
So where are people going this summer? Here’s a peak at the top five destinations for vacations this summer’s most heavily traveled weekends, based on an analysis of over 1 million Marriott.com searches and bookings:
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Memorial Day Weekend Travel
The first official holiday weekend of summer promises to be a busy one when it comes to weekend getaways. The top five most booked cities for Memorial Day Weekend travel topping the list:
- New York City
- Orlando
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- San Diego
Outside of the United States, Marriott International found that the top two most searched international destinations in the Americas for Memorial Day travel were Toronto and Cancun.
Independence Day Exploration
With U.S. Independence Day falling on a Wednesday this year, the study found that half of consumers report taking their longest vacation of the year in the summer, with the top five most booked destinations for festivities including:
- Houston
- New York City
- Orlando
- Seattle
- Chicago
Summer Weekend Getaways
According to the survey results, consumers are planning to take an average of 4.4 days off and families with children have more days off and leisure trips planned for this summer. Major cities, beaches and national parks are the top three reasons travelers will be selecting certain destinations this summer. The five most booked cities reflect travelers’ wide variety of leisure travel interests, with top choices being:
- New York City
- Chicago
- Orlando
- Atlanta
- Seattle
Marriott’s study also found that, similar to international Fourth of July travel, Toronto and Vancouver were two of the top choices for international non-holiday summer weekend getaways.
In addition, Marriott’s survey also reported on notable summer travel trends:
– US consumers are planning to take an average of two leisure trips this summer
– Half of consumers report taking their longest vacation of the year in the summer
– The beach, pool, and restaurant are the top three favorite summer hotel amenities
– Meals, visiting attractions, exploring places, and outdoor activities are the top ways to reconnect with family
– Millennials are more likely to increase their number of leisure trips this year vs. last year
– Visiting a city, beach, or state/national park are the top three planned travel destinations while 12% are heading to a vineyard or brewery