TRAVELERS SEEK NEW EXPERIENCES AND CUSTOMIZED VACATIONS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, ACCORDING TO AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL AGENTS
Agents Surveyed Report Family Holiday Vacations Are Becoming More Luxurious; Elaborate Itineraries and Personalized Arrangements are in High Demand
NEW YORK, November 14, 2007 -- Travelers are expanding beyond the more traditional holiday jaunts and seeking new and more customized vacation experiences this holiday season, according to a new survey of 681 American Express Travel agents. The majority (83%) of agents polled revealed that travelers are increasingly seeking new destinations and more than half (52%) said that travelers are going farther away during the holidays this year than in years past. More than half of agents (59%) reported that travelers are requesting more elaborate and customized trips with itineraries that include multiple destination stops and more personalized arrangements, such as local cooking classes and private cultural tours. To accommodate these carefully thought-out plans, nearly half of agents surveyed (46%) say travelers are planning and booking their holiday vacations earlier than in years past.
"Holiday vacations are often the most highly anticipated trips of the entire year and travelers are increasingly looking to experience something new and unique," said Audrey Hendley, vice president of American Express Travel. "Whether exploring a new destination or renting a private villa for the first time, our American Express Travel specialists help customers create highly personalized and customized holiday vacation experiences that are carefully and thoughtfully designed down to the smallest detail."
Overall, 56% of agents said their customers are booking more upscale vacations this holiday season than in previous years, especially families. Agents reported booking more four- and five-star hotels than in years past (71%) as well as first- or business-class travel (59%) and luxury cruises (33%). All American Express Platinum Travel Villa Specialists surveyed reported that requests for private villa vacations were up for the upcoming holidays. Agents also said their customers are taking advantage of airport clubs to make their trips more relaxing (61%) and that the most common activity requests from travelers include arranging spa appointments (55%), gourmet dining (42%) and local shopping excursions (36%). Agents said they are seeing the most significant rise in luxury travel among families that are booking high-end hotels with kids programs (82%) and traveling with nannies (56%).
Most Popular Holiday Vacation Spots
Overall, agents report beach/resort, ski/mountain vacations and cruises among the most popular types of holiday getaways this year. In terms of destinations, agents report that Hawaii ranks above all other popular U.S. destinations this holiday season, while the Caribbean remains the international favorite. For skiers, Colorado dominated the top ranked destinations with Aspen, Vail and Telluride named among the top five.
| Top 5 U.S. Destinations | Top 5 International Destinations | Top Ski Destinations |
| Hawaii | Caribbean | Aspen, Colo. |
| New York | Mexico | Vail, Colo. |
| Las Vegas | Rome | Park City, Utah |
| South Florida (Miami/Fort Lauderdale) | Paris | Jackson Hole, Wyo. |
| Rocky Mountains | London | Telluride, Colo. |
In addition to the perennial favorites, agents revealed a range of destinations that have spiked in popularity this year, including both domestic destinations such as Arizona and international destinations such as Central America and Dubai.
Planning with Ease, Traveling with Peace of Mind
Planning vacations with ease and traveling with peace of mind was of particular importance to travelers this year, according to the agents surveyed. Seventy percent of agents polled reported that more travelers are redeeming points for holiday travel this year than ever before, particularly for air travel (80%) – an option available to American Express Membership Rewards program enrollees through its Pay With Points feature, which allows Cardmembers to book travel with points while avoiding holiday black-out dates and restrictions*. Agents also revealed that travelers are placing an importance on peace of mind when traveling this holiday season, reporting a rise in inquires about travel insurances and protections overall (59%). The most popular travel protections and insurances that were inquired about are insurances that protect against canceled reservations (72%), policies that protect against loss of money due to unforeseen trip cancellations (43%) and baggage insurance (36%).
About the Poll
Data on 2007 holiday travel trends was collected via an online poll of 681 American Express Travel agents and representatives across the U.S. The poll was fielded during early November. All statistics reflect the percentages of agents polled.
About American Express Travel
American Express entered the travel agency business in 1915 and today is one of the world's largest travel agency networks. The company has more than 2,200 Travel and Foreign Exchange Services locations worldwide in more than 140 countries.
American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.
* Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. For full details, Cardmembers can call the toll-free customers service number located on the back of their Card.
