Consumers are excited to hit the road: nearly three-quarters (73%) of consumers are positive about travel and more than half (51%) of travelers expect to take more trips interior amenities over the coming year.
Photo via Pixabay.com/egorshitikov
The lingering effects of COVID-19 and the growing impact of climate change have recently shaped traveler behavior and will force the travel industry to evolve. These are the findings of a new report from CarTrawler, a B2B technology provider of car rental and mobility solutions for the global travel industry, which surveyed 2,000 adult travelers in the US and UK. to understand how travel has transformed over the past year.
According to “The Evolution of Travel: CarTrawler’s Consumer Trends for 2022” report, people love to travel, but are also hungry for safer options, sustainable alternatives and greater convenience when traveling. .
Bottom Line: Despite COVID-19-related health issues, travelers have an overwhelming desire to travel, with 77% expressing positive emotions around travel. They are also more environmentally conscious than ever, with 73% of travelers willing to pay more to hire an eco-friendly car – up to $22 more per day – and 52% preferring airlines that have
is committed to being carbon neutral. Travelers are also hungry for mobile offers that make the booking process easier and allow them to manage their entire itinerary.
“The past two years have forced the travel industry and travelers themselves to adapt and evolve,” said Cormac Barry, CEO of CarTrawler. “Beyond the pandemic, the industry must recognize and adapt to the behaviors of today’s travelers. People are more tech and environmentally savvy and expect the brands they engage with to be the same. CarTrawler’s goal is to generate successful partnerships and as CarTrawler strives to define the future of human travel technology, we hope this report provides valuable insight into what drives consumer decision-making and can serve as a model for brands as they adapt to the new realities of travel.
From cabin fever to new adventures
Travelers in the US and UK are satisfied with travel – more than half of respondents (51%) expect to take more domestic leisure trips in the coming year, while 43 % plan to travel abroad. However, travelers also have mixed feelings about health regulations.
- Fifty-three percent think travel providers are sharing enough — and being more than transparent — about their COVID-19 policies. Meanwhile, more than a third (37%) would like more clarity around policies. Interestingly, new rules and regulations, such as cleaning, have instilled more confidence in flying in 34% of travelers, and 41% say it is safer and cleaner to fly now than before.
- Sixty percent of travelers whose last trip was over a year ago said they were concerned about their health and physical safety if they were to travel now or in the near future, compared to just 36% of travelers who took trips inside the country. Last year.
- Despite this, travelers are still looking for more flexibility, with 73% saying they would be willing to spend more on flight insurance now than before.
Convenience is king
During the pandemic, especially with the transition to remote and hybrid working, people have become accustomed to using cloud services and applications. The travel industry should adapt to this change by providing travelers with more options for convenience and flexibility.
- Sixty-one percent of travelers want an easier booking process; more than half (51%) wish there was a single mobile app from which they could manage all parts of their trip.
- Nearly half (49%) of travelers say they would buy a single travel app if it contained all the essentials for travel, including tickets, itineraries, passports and vaccine passports.
- More than half of travelers (55%) say they would like to book flights and rental cars at the same time.
When it comes to using mobile travel apps, the generational divide is quite stark: 43% of Millennials, 36% of Gen Z and 31% of Gen X have used a company-owned mobile app airline or car rental to book transportation, compared to only 15% of baby boomers.
Go green
Travelers to the US and UK are increasingly interested in more eco-friendly options and are willing to pay extra.
- More than half of travelers (55%) would prefer renting an eco-friendly car over a gas-guzzling car, and a third (33%) would prefer renting electric vehicles.
- The green car rental experience was generational: 69% of Gen Z and 68% of Millennials rented sustainable vehicles, compared to just 40% of Gen X and 8% of Baby Boomers.
- On average, US travelers said they would be willing to spend $22 and UK travelers £14 more per day on top of the standard price to hire an environmentally friendly vehicle.
- However, two-thirds (66%) of travelers say car rental companies shouldn’t charge more for eco-friendly options.
Jet Setters vs. Road Trippers
When asked about their preferred modes of transportation, air travel narrowly edged out personal vehicles. However, travelers could make a three-point turn — since the start of the pandemic, 85% of travelers have taken trips by car.
- Gen Z (74%) and Millennials (72%) who have taken a road trip say the first time they rented a car rather than using a personal vehicle was during the pandemic, compared to 49% of Generation X and 16% of Baby Boomers.