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Survey Finds US Travel Resuming, But Not at Pre-COVID Levels

By a wide margin, Americans planning trips in 2020 plan will travel by car and stay either at family or friend’s house or hotel.

July 1, 2020
Survey Finds US Travel Resuming, But Not at Pre-COVID Levels

Sixty-eight percent of these expectant travelers say they are likely to stay in a hotel in 2020.

Photo via Depositphotos.

2 min to read


While coronavirus cases continue to rise in the U.S., a survey conducted by Morning Consult — commissioned by the American Hotel and Lodging Association — found that 44% of Americans are planning overnight vacation or leisure travel in 2020, with high interest in road trips, family events, and long weekends over the summer months.

Sixty-eight percent of these expectant travelers say they are likely to stay in a hotel in 2020.

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Among Americans planning to travel in 2020, 59% expect to take their first overnight trip by the end of the summer. Summer road trips will take center stage, with 72% planning an overnight vacation via car over the next five months. Of these, 75% expect to drive two or more hours.

On their next overnight trip, 43% plan to stay with family and friends, and 39% plan to stay in a hotel. Nine percent plan to stay at a short-term rental such as Airbnb, and 5% in a camper or RV.

Nearly eight in 10 (78%) are planning a trip of four days or less suggesting long-weekend trips will be first vacation travel to return.

Key findings among those planning to travel in 2020:

  • How long they’re staying: 78% are planning trips of four nights or less.

  • Why they’re traveling: 55% plan to travel for a family event, such as a wedding, birthday, anniversary, or family reunion; 50% plan to travel for Christmas, 43% for Thanksgiving, 33% for 4th of July, and 30% for Labor Day.

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About 70% of Americans take a vacation in any given year, according to OmniTrak (TNS) data — suggesting that travel is a long way from pre-COVID-19 levels.

To view the full results of the survey, click here.

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