U.S. leisure travelers plan to reduce travel plans amid rising COVID-19 cases. Sixty-nine percent plan to take fewer trips, 55% are looking to postpone existing travel plans, and 42% are likely to cancel existing plans without rescheduling, according to a survey by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).

Nearly three in four (72%) respondents are likely to only travel to places within driving distance, according to the survey. And 70% are likely to travel with smaller groups.

“With COVID-19 cases rising and travel concerns mounting as we enter the fall and winter months, the hotel industry is at a pivotal point,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “Unless Congress acts, pandemic-related travel reductions will continue to threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of hotel workers.”

Recent AHLA survey results show that business travelers are also scaling back their travel plans amid rising COVID-19 cases. That includes 67% of business travelers planning to take fewer trips, 52% likely to cancel existing travel plans without rescheduling, and 60% planning to postpone existing travel plans.

The survey of 2,200 adults was conducted August 11-12, 2021. Of these, 1,707 people (or 78% of respondents) are considered leisure travelers.