Travellers want their next vacation to be their Greatest
of All Trips (GOAT), in pursuit of transformative and meaningful
travel experiences
TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2021 /CNW/ -- Today, Expedia®
released its 2022 Travel Trends Report revealing new traveller
priorities that are shaking up the status quo in 2022. As more
countries begin to welcome travellers back and demand
spikes 1 for
international destinations such as Maui, Rome
and Bali, Expedia's research
reveals around
two-thirds 2 of
Canadians (61%) are planning to go big on their next trips with a
new "no regrets" style of travel, which Expedia has dubbed the
"GOAT" (Greatest of All Trips) mindset.
Appreciating that each trip is a privilege, travellers are in
pursuit of more transformative and fulfilling journeys, without
holding back. Among the top GOAT characteristics uncovered by the
Expedia report, which polled 12,000 travellers across 12 countries,
Canadian travellers are planning to be more present and live in the
moment, immerse themselves in culture, splurge on experiences and
seek out excitement, as they crave the feelings of
contentment/mental wellbeing (41%), gratification (35%) and
excitement/exhilaration (36%).
Mary Zajac, PR Manager for brand Expedia,
comments: "Travel is no longer just about 'going
somewhere.' Coming out of such a long period of constraints and
limitations impacting Canadians, travel in 2022 will be about
wringing every bit of richness and meaning out of our experiences,
both domestically and internationally. Despite some still feeling
cautious towards travel, a new wave of excitement is bubbling as
travellers chase travel greatness to get their GOAT."
EXPEDIA'S 2022 GOAT TRAVEL TRENDS
Expedia's trends
report showcases how Canadians are embracing new habits and going
big while offering tips to ensure all travellers can have their
GOAT.
Scrapping the Schedule
The pandemic made it difficult
to travel or do anything on a whim, with 41 percent of Canadians
admitting to being less spontaneous since the onset of COVID-19.
While travel advisories and guidelines will persist for the
foreseeable future, travellers nonetheless are planning to embrace
the impromptu and let loose on their future trips, with 27 percent
seeking to be more spontaneous and live in the moment.
Expedia's research also found travellers are preferring to
go-with-the flow and forgo an itinerary (22%) to embrace the
freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want (29%). With
more flexible options and rates available than ever before, there's
no better time to explore last-minute trips and unknown adventures
that might just help travellers find their GOAT.
How to get your GOAT:
- Destination Pick: To be spontaneous you do not have to
go far, consider a weekend in Whistler, Montreal, or Victoria where you can let your wanderlust run
free.
- Expedia Travel Tip: Expedia wants travellers to have all
the tools they need to make travel plans they feel confident and
excited about for when possible to get away again. Travellers can
filter search results for "free cancellation" or "reserve now, pay
later" and select a refundable room type.
The Splurge-cation
After cancelled trips, postponed
celebrations and foregoing simple luxuries, people will have a new
lease on life in 2022 and compromising will be a thing of the past.
Travellers are ready to make up for lost time and go big to put
themselves first and get the GOAT they deserve.
Over the next year, more than a third of travellers are more
willing to treat themselves (36%) and prioritize their
enjoyment and experiences over budget on their next trip. From
booking a first-class flight or booking a 5-star hotel (11%),
to dining at a Michelin star restaurant (21%) or going all out on
the ultimate shopping spree (15%), there will be no expenses
spared as travellers look to invest in making their trips all the
more special.
How to get your GOAT:
- Destination Pick: For those searching for the ultimate
shopping spree, consider Paris,
one of the world's top shopping destinations. If Michelin star
restaurants is part of the agenda, add London's Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on the
list which is home to Dinner by Heston
Blumenthal. Alternatively head to Athens, stay at Expedia VIP property COCO-MAT
Hotel Athens and enjoy a sophisticated tasting menu at the Michelin
star restaurant Spondi.
- Expedia Travel Tip: And for those looking to treat
themselves to luxe flying, now is the best time to upgrade.
According to data from Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC),
average premium economy ticket prices in 2021 were 212 percent more
expensive than economy tickets, whereas pre-pandemic, in 2019
average prices for a premium economy ticket were a huge 304 percent
more expensive than economy3.
Immerse to Discover
Going big doesn't just mean taking
a bucket-list trip. In the coming year, travellers are going after
their GOAT by going beyond the norm on their next trip, with more
willing to step outside their comfort zone (20%) and immerse
themselves in a destination, culture, and experiences
completely different to their own (25%).
From embracing food they've never eaten before (37%) and
experimenting with local delicacies (36%), to visiting a
destination they never would have considered pre-pandemic (19%),
staying with a local family instead of booking a hotel (13%) or
seeking more rural, off-the-beaten track experiences (25%),
travellers have a new curiosity to learn something new and truly
experience the world.
How to get your GOAT:
- Destination Pick: Canadians looking to go beyond the
norm can find their ultimate GOAT in either Algarve (Portugal), San
Diego or Kauai. There they
will find local eats as well as plenty of vitamin D.
- Expedia Travel Tip: Expedia's handy "Interest" filters
will help narrow activity and experiences searches. For travellers
looking to go beyond the norm on their next trip, try filtering by
history and culture, or food and drink to indulge in a food tour to
get the very best the destination has to offer.
Sensation Seeking
In 2022, travellers aren't
just craving new tastes and places, they're also yearning for the
feeling of being excited and exhilarated once again (36%); nearly
one in ten (6%) are hoping to feel a sense of danger or riskiness
on their next trip, with almost ten percent (9%) willing
to try daring or high adrenaline activities and experiences.
Additionally, when it comes to their next trip, one-quarter of
travellers are most excited about doing things they would usually
never do, including sleeping under the stars
(15%), skinny-dipping (11%) or having a vacation romance (14%)
on their next trip.
How to get your GOAT:
- Destination Pick: Whether it's sky diving in
Dubai, bungee jumping, or deep-sea
diving in Oahu , Canadians are
ready to feel wind in their hair again and the rush of exploring
the unknown, to ensure they achieve their GOAT.
- Expedia Travel Tip: Use Expedia's "Adventure &
Outdoor" filter to narrow down experiences that will get the blood
rushing and adrenaline pumping.
Unfiltered Enjoyment
A successful trip is
no longer defined by likes on social media; rather devices are
out, and traveller priorities are shifting to place a greater focus
on staying present and mindful, with 25 percent seeking trips that
enable them to prioritize their mental health. Furthermore, nearly
half (41%) are searching for a sense of contentment and mental
wellbeing on their next trip, and one in five travellers (23%) will
spend less time on their devices to be more present.
To reach this sense of contentment, more than a quarter of
travellers (29%) also aim to spend more time in their destination
to ensure they fully experience all it has to offer. Travel in 2022
will be about quality, not
quantity, where travellers are embracing the simple
pleasures to truly achieve their GOAT with more meaningful
impact.
How to get your GOAT:
- Destination Pick: Whether it's relaxing at a
Mexico spa retreat, or staying at
the Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa in Chile, these unplugged getaways will help
Canadians recharge their batteries - no batteries required - and
achieve their ultimate GOAT.
- Expedia Travel Tip: Consider physically switching off
gadgets when you are not working, locking them away or putting them
out of sight to ensure you are truly present. Alternatively
allocate a specific time to being online only and then switch
off.
"To support travellers in their trip planning, Expedia has
implemented a range of tools to help travellers make informed
decisions. For the latest information on regulations and health and
safety guidelines for their destination and origin visit Expedia's
handy COVID-19 Travel Advisory, while using Expedia's
"free cancellation" or "Book Now, Pay Later" filters will help
travellers find options with flexible and refundable rates,"
said Mary Zajac, PR Manager for brand Expedia.
As travellers continue to plan and book their future trips, it's
important to stay up to date with the latest government and travel
advisories. For the latest information visit Expedia's
COVID-19 Travel Guide.
About Expedia
Expedia® is one of the world's
leading full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping
travellers get the most out of every trip they take by providing
everything they need all in one place, ensuring they are
getting the most out of their budget and above all else, feel
supported every step of the way.
Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale
allows us to understand our travellers better than anyone
else, delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our
personalized experiences backed by incredible technology, enables
us to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across
accommodations, transportation, activities, and experiences, that
help you get the most out of your journey.
Use our mobile
app or visit http://www.expedia.ca to plan your
journey with us.
© 2021 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All
rights reserved. Expedia and the Airplane logo are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc.
1 Based on lodging interest on
Expedia.ca for travel between Jan.1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022, as of Oct.21,
2021.
2 This study was
conducted on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research
Partners, a global strategic research firm. The survey was
conducted online from August 27th–September 6, 2021, across North
and South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific using an amalgamated group of
best-in-class panels. The study was conducted among 12,000
respondents across 12 countries, amongst adults who are planning
domestic or international travel in the next 18
months. The study was conducted among 2,000
respondents in Canada.
3Information is
based on average premium and economy round-trip ticket prices for
January through August for 2021 & for January through
December 2020 and 2019, sourced from
ARC's global airline sales database for 2021.
SOURCE Expedia.ca