Holiday travel plans haven’t rebounded to pre-pandemic levels just yet. According to a survey of 1,200 Americans conducted by Destination Analysts between September 29 and October 1, more than 68% of respondents say they’re currently planning or considering a trip, compared to 78.7% in June. With the Delta variant impacting consumers’ comfortability with travel (and multiple other activities), Destination Analysts CEO Erin Francis-Cummings notes, “Americans do look like they’re pushing travel plans,” and Hopper projects that the number of U.S. passengers traveling via airplane is expected to be around 75% of 2019 levels for Thanksgiving and 80% for Christmas. Meanwhile, consumers who aren’t ready to travel via crowded terminals are exploring new getaways like short-term rentals, with reservations for short-term rentals during Thanksgiving up 302% compared to 2020 and up 93% from 2019. (Bloomberg)
