NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- If you didn't post
it on your social media channels, did it even happen? As social
media continues to influence the way people travel, the Travelzoo®
Fall Travel Trends Survey* released today by global deals publisher
Travelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO) uncovered that travelers are finding
themselves at a crossroads of FOMO (fear of missing out) and the
desire for relaxation, as they're torn between their need to share
their vacation adventures on social media and a wish to digitally
disconnect while away.
Drive for the Out of the Ordinary
FOMO is impacting
travel decisions, as more than half (53%) of respondents said they
feel pressure to book unique or exotic vacations, and 40% feel
pressure to take more adventurous vacations. In fact, adventure is
a growing theme among travelers, with one in six respondents
feeling compelled to be more adventurous than they really are,
while one in three (34%) feel a vacation is actually wasted without
adventurous experiences. Younger travelers were most likely to say
that they felt they had wasted time on vacation, with 24% of
millennials and 29% of Generation Xers saying they didn't
experience enough at their vacation destination.
Much of this drive for fun, unexpected experiences can be tied
to how vacation photos translate on social media. Nearly half (47%)
of those surveyed agree that social media is driving up the need to
experience more on vacation, and almost a third (30%) of travelers
are booking trips based on whether they think the destination or
activity will serve up visually compelling social media
content.
The Digital Disconnect
Despite the desire to put up a
positive and exciting front on social media, there is a growing
interest in trips that allow travelers to disconnect even more. In
fact, half of respondents said cutting digital ties enhances the
appeal of a trip. Rationale for wanting to cut the cord was due to
feeling they check email too often (28%), are jaded by the news
(27%) and feel too tied to a phone (22%). With the mounting
stresses of everyday life, it's not surprising that the top goals
of most travelers are still relaxing (56%) and enjoying great food
(44%).
Meaningful Experiences Count
Regardless of age, nearly
half of respondents (44%) feel an original or meaningful experience
is important when booking a vacation. Spiritual benefits or
personal growth resonates with a quarter of all respondents, with
Generation Z (58%) and millennials (39%) placing more emphasis on
those outcomes than those of the baby boomers (18%) or those born
before 1946 (28%). 10% of travelers stay active by contributing to
the local community when on a vacation. Millennials are more likely
to feel to need to give back, while just 2% of boomers say the
same.
"With newsfeeds full of envy-inducing photos, it is no wonder
that travelers feel torn between their desire to post their
instagrammable vacation experiences while also stepping away from
it all," says Mike Stitt,
Travelzoo's President of North
America. "It's important to get real memories and
experiences on your next vacation and not just post about
them—actually tasting the truffles before tweeting about them!"
Become a Travelzoo member today to start receiving your
personalized insider travel deals from one of our deal experts.
Visit www.travelzoo.com to join!
About the Research
*The Travelzoo® Fall Travel Trends
Survey was completed by 1,000 consumers in the United States who responded to an online
questionnaire distributed by third-party research agency SWNS Media
Group. The questionnaires were completed July 21–23, 2017.
About Travelzoo
Travelzoo® provides our 28 million
members with insider deals and one-of-a-kind experiences personally
reviewed by one of our deal experts around the globe. With more
than 25 offices worldwide, we have our finger on the pulse of
outstanding travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. For
over 15 years we have worked in partnership with more than 2,000
top travel suppliers—our long-standing relationships allow us
access to the very best deals.
Travelzoo and Top 20 are registered trademarks of Travelzoo. All
other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
Travelzoo
590 Madison Avenue
37th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Media contact:
Cat Jordan
+1 (212) 484 4982
cjordan@travelzoo.com
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SOURCE Travelzoo