New Study Shows What Families Want On Vacation

by McLean Robbins on

Pools rule, say families traveling together. A new report from Hilton shows that families value pool and water activities most, followed by spacious and potentially adjoining guest rooms and all-inclusive options.

These valued options make sense, given that parents often wish to save money while on vacation. All-inclusive options keep costs down (92% of US parents were interested in this option), while pools and water activities are often free value-adds at a resort that might not have much in the way of off-property activities.

Kids’ clubs are another highly valued resort amenity for families – key considerations for kids’ club use are safety, flexibility and diverse programming.

None of these stats are particularly surprising; although, we were a bit shocked that interest in all-inclusive packages was so high, given the limited number of these types of resorts available for domestic travel.

Where are parents looking to go? Top destinations where U.S. parents want to vacation now include Hawaii, Orlando, the Grand Canyon, Southern California and Continental Europe, while U.K. parents pair their top choice of Orlando with Disneyland Paris, Italy, Mallorca and Dubai.

Hotel Prices Up Five Percent Since 2011

by McLean Robbins on




The newest data from the Hotel Price Index shows that North America has had the second fastest rise in average hotel prices in the first half of 2012, to the tune of about a five percent increase over what they were in 2011.

The good news, however, is that prices remain ten “index points” behind the 2007 peak and are still, on average, less costly than they were in 2006.

The data, tracked by booking website Hotels.com, shows that prices rose globally about four percent during the first half of the year, the first time in five years that the HPI has increased globally.

“A new leaf for the hotel sector is on the horizon, as illustrated by the fact that 26 out of 30 cities on Americans’ most preferred domestic destinations list had an average daily rate increase in the first half of 2012,” said Victor Owens, vice president and general manager, Hotels.com North America in a release.

West Coast Isn’t Laid Back When It Comes to Prices

The West Coast has accounted for a majority of consistent domestic price increases for the first half of the year, with many popular cities raising prices between five and 13 percent.

San Francisco elevated prices by nearly $20, from $135 in 2011 to $153 in 2012. Monterey also showed a notable increase of 10 percent to $147 in the first half of this year.

San Diego, which displayed a modest average daily rate increase of 6 percent, has steadily been making its way up the list of favorite domestic cities among Americans. This year, it has overtaken Chicago ($158) as the fourth favorite city among U.S. travelers, making it the first California city to break into the top four, joining reigning favorites Las Vegas ($101), New York City ($205) and Orlando ($110), respectively.Americans Spending (And Staying) More

Americans are spending roughly $125 a night on domestic hotel stays, a five percent year-over-year increase. Data also shows an increased number of U.S. bookings seen over the past six months.

In order to stand out in this increasingly competitive sector, hoteliers are revamping and upgrading their properties, or expanding into the luxury segment, which may account for some of the price increases.

Luxury travel trends such as spa tourism and shopping continue to drive bookings in destinations like New York City and Miami, yet Americans remain consistently vigilant about getting the best value for their dollar. All-inclusives, package deals, and add-ons, such as free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, ground transport or show tickets are all key offerings Americans are on the look-out for to make their dollar go further.

How to Snag A Deal

Prices in some all-time favorite Southern European cities such as Athens, Greece (down 11 percent), Toledo, Spain (down 9 percent), and Pisa, Italy (down 8 percent), are all on the down-swing according to prices paid by North American’s in the first half of this year – a likely result of significant drops in local currency.

Surprisingly, the UEFA Euro Cup and the ramp-up to the Summer Games did not create a significant price increase for the region, as Europe and the Middle East as a whole displayed the least amount of growth from a global perspective in the first half of 2012, only increasing by a worldwide average of 1 percent. Warsaw, Poland (up 9 percent), was able to reap some benefits of its Euro Cup tourism, while business and group travel in London (up 1 percent) was affected due to limited inventory and the expected influx of leisure tourism as a result of added attractions for the Summer Games.

The HPI tracks data from 140,000 global hotels in the Hotels.com database.

Best Hotels For Business Travelers

by McLean Robbins on

An annual hotel chain survey from the magazine Business Travel News shows that new brands are making waves among business travelers, with some new names beating out industry stalwarts.
Some changes might be attributed to a change in the scoring system this year (from a six- to five-point scale) and a new criterion consistency.

In the luxury tier, St. Regis/Luxury Collection, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, won top marks for business, achieving high marks for physical appearance, hotel staff, sales staff, business centers, business and in-room amenities and price/value comparison. They narrowly beat out Ritz-Carlton. Former industry winner Four Seasons dropped to fifth place, behind Waldorf=Astoria and Mandarin Oriental.

Even in a tough economy, “luxury hotels have rebounded powerfully,” wrote author Michael Baker in the September 10 issue of Business Travel News, even reaching pre-recession levels.

James Vanderslice, Hilton‘s global head of luxury and lifestyle brands, explained why in the article.
“Our travel partners have realized there’s actually efficiency to having a meeting or event at a luxury hotel because of the facilities and services we provide.”

“Upper Upscale” businesses also showed growth, with the W hotels brand edging out JW Marriott by one one-hundredth of a point. Upscale travelers preferred Embassy Suites, which beat out Doubletree hotels, also by just one one-hundredth of a point. Embassy Suites were viewed as the most consistent and best value, while Doubletree won for physical appearance.

Will this change where you stay as a business traveler?

How (And Where) Business Travelers Stay Productive On The Road

by McLean Robbins on

Are you productive when traveling for work? The easy answer is that it depends on how much you travel. Frequent business travelers know how to maximize productivity while on the road, and those who are able to quickly acclimate to new environments may also be good at this trick of “on the go productivity.”

I, personally, am writing from a hotel bed while eating Pringles from the mini bar. That’s all about productivity, no?

Were I in San Diego (74%) and Seattle (69%), I’d be best primed to be “work-life” productive on a U.S. overnight business trip, a new survey from Cambria Suites found. I’d also do well in Boston, Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco, Denver, New York, Phoenix or San Antonio.

The survey showed that nearly all travelers state that work-life balance is an important goal for business travel. Seventy-one percent of respondents say the key to achieving work-life balance is focusing on “work-life productivity” while traveling, which means living their entire life more productively and putting equal focus on work and personal needs.

As such, the study explored how travelers stay productive on the road and what tools best help (or hinder) their experiences.Employer Expectations Grow Even As Travel Budgets Shrink

On the heels of reports that U.S. business travel continues to grow, so do the expectations of employers. The survey shows that road warriors feel employers are demanding greater outcomes and higher efficiencies from each and every business trip.

Almost a quarter (23%) of business travelers say that they are staying less frequently at hotels that are full service or luxury class, and more than one out of five (21%) say they are facing greater scrutiny over outcomes from their business trips.

Technology Critical to Balance Top Personal Challenges on the Road

The Cambria Suites survey found that spending time with loved ones (62%) and missing important events and milestones in their personal lives (42%) are two of the top five challenges cited by business travelers while on the road. Others include: eating healthy and on a regular schedule (68%), getting proper sleep (62%), and exercising regularly (60%). Caring for pets at home (24%) is also a concern for some business travelers.

According to the survey, technology is a top tool for business travelers to balance personal and professional needs; nearly two-thirds (66%) of business travelers cite technology as critical in achieving greater overall work-life productivity. While technology has made business travel more efficient and productive for nearly eight of 10 travelers (78%), it is equally significant in helping them stay connected with loved ones on business trips (81%).

Right Hotel has More Impact on Staying Productive than Flight or Rental Car

The survey also revealed the importance hotels play in achieving balance and productivity when traveling. More than half of road warriors (56%) say that the hotel component has a greater impact on their ability to work productively than other trip components, such as their flight or rental car. Comfortable beds and bedding (65%), closely followed by free Wi-Fi (62%) are cited as most important when it comes to hotel services and amenities. Friendly, helpful staff (39%), free parking (30%) and a spacious, well-appointed hotel guestroom (26%) complete the top five must-have hotel services for business travelers.

More Women Than Men Use Technology to Stay In Touch with Loved Ones

The survey found women value and use technology more than men to stay connected with their personal lives on business trips. Women are more likely (plus 13% points) than men to say that social media in particular has enhanced their business travel experience by keeping them in touch with their personal and professional networks (42% compared with 29%). Eight of 10 female business travelers state that technology is just as important in their business and personal life to enhance their overall productivity, compared to seven of 10 men. The survey also revealed that achieving work-life balance is more important to female road warriors, with 96 percent of women saying work-life balance is an important goal compared with 82 percent of men.

How do you stay productive and balanced while on the road?

Seattle Is The Country’s Most Expensive Labor Day Destination

by McLean Robbins on

Want to save money on this long weekend? Don’t head to Seattle. The Emerald City is the country’s most expensive destination for this upcoming Labor Day weekend, based on the cost of its lodging, according to a new survey by CheapHotels. The survey compared hotel rates for 20 popular U.S. destinations for the Labor Day weekend period spanning August 31 to September 3 (Labor Day).

The cheapest available three-star hotel is a hefty $312 per night, perhaps due to a large event, the annual Bumbershoot Festival, taking place that weekend. This music and arts festival typically drives around 100,000 visitors to the city each year. As a result of its popularity, hotel rates are around 65% higher than normal, according to the survey.

Budget travelers can find much more affordable rates at other national destinations, though. In Washington, D.C., or Miami Beach, for example, they can score a three-star hotel room for around $100 per night. And the usually in-demand Orlando is a bargain hunter’s dream. In fact, it’s the country’s cheapest Labor Day weekend destination according to the survey, with an overnight rate of only $63.

If you’re looking to save costs, we’d also suggest avoiding Virginia Beach ($309), Atlantic City ($286) and Philadelphia ($269).