You, and everyone you know, took a trip this summer—and according to our latest survey data, there’s no slowdown in sight: Nearly all (90%) respondents plan to travel before the end of 2023.
Last month, we asked more than 1,400 U.S.-based TripIt users about their recent and upcoming travel plans. Here’s what you need to know according to our data:
- Blended travel plans are on the rise: Almost half (41%) of travelers plan to take a blended trip in the next six months, and just as many say their employer is supportive of blended travel.
- Pop culture travel plans will (more than) double: 41% of respondents will travel with a pop culture motive in the next year—that’s up from 18% this past year—with top reasons being to attend a convention, attend a sporting event, or see a performer/artist. Most travelers (69%) will spend about the same on this trip as their other travel.
- Americans are on the move through the end of the year: 53% plan to fly within the U.S.; 52% plan to visit family/friends; 42% plan to fly internationally; and 40% plan to take a business trip.
Let’s take a closer look at these trends, plus what else travelers had to say.
Nearly half of American travelers planning a blended trip
Did you work from the beach or a vacation destination this summer? If so, you weren’t alone: Almost a third (30%) of respondents blended work with vacation over the past three months. Of those who did, 40% said they added vacation days onto a business trip; 33% worked remotely from a vacation destination; and 27% both added days and worked remotely.
Blended trips were particularly popular with travelers aged 25 to 40:
According to our data, blended travel plans will increase as we head into fall and winter: 41% of respondents are planning to take a blended trip in the next six months. Of those planning a blended trip, 41% will add vacation days onto a business trip; 32% will work remotely from a vacation destination; and 27% will both add vacation days and work remotely.
Do company culture and policies regarding blended travel play a role here? Nearly half (41%) of respondents considered their employer supportive of blended travel, and 46% said they do not need to submit a request for blended travel. That said, more than half of respondents (55%) reported that their employer does not have a blended travel policy; 15% said they do; and 30% were unsure.
“While the concept of blended travel is nothing new, it’s become more popular in the past few years as companies have granted more flexibility in where employees work,” says Jen Moyse, Vice President of Product at TripIt. “Regardless of the trip structure, many employees are taking advantage of the flexibility to make up for lost time and trips due to the pandemic.”
“A first step to planning any blended travel is checking your company travel policies, but note that not every company has a policy or permits this practice as there are duty of care and risk considerations that come with extending business trips. Employers and employees also need to be mindful of their working locations, as many states and countries have specific laws and regulations that can trigger tax burdens for companies and individuals if too many days are spent working in a certain geography.”
Swifties settle down; convention fans converge
‘Twas the year of powerhouse pipes. Not only did pop artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé draw record-breaking crowds to their concerts, they broke records across the board. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is set to be the biggest tour of all time; Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour is already the highest-grossing tour for a Black female artist.
And Americans were … Ready For It: Of the nearly one in five (18%) respondents who said they traveled for a pop culture event or reason this year, 68% traveled to see an artist or performer.
But with Taylor soon heading overseas for the international leg of her tour, and Beyoncé’s tour ending later this month, we’re not surprised to see a 79% decrease in those traveling to see an artist or performer in the year ahead.
Meanwhile, going to a convention—think Comic Con or Anime Expo—will claim the number one spot in the next year, ahead of trips to attend a sporting event, see an artist/performer, or visit a destination where a movie or TV show was filmed/set.
More than half of Americans to fly domestically this fall and winter
Pop culture isn’t the only thing inspiring Americans to plan trips in the year ahead. Our survey data shows nearly all (90%) respondents plan to travel before the end of 2023.
How does that compare to the first part of the year? In the past six months, 81% of respondents stayed in a hotel; 74% took a domestic flight; 62% took a road trip; 46% stayed with family/friends; and 42% took an international flight.
Of those who traveled in the past three months, 15% were impacted by extreme weather—a slight dip from survey results we released in March when 18% of travelers had a trip impacted. (Note: This survey was conducted prior to Hurricanes Idalia and Hilary.)
Of those who had their trips impacted, 41% did not change their plans; 39% had an aspect of their trip changed or canceled; 12% chose to change an aspect of their trip; 4% did not change their plans, but wish they had; and just 1% chose to cancel their trip.
Being informed about your destination helps ensure you can enjoy the trip you have planned. On top of weather considerations, travelers need to be mindful of new required documentation such as the ETIAS travel authorization. More than a third of respondents (39%) said they’re planning to travel to one of the 30 countries that will require ETIAS travel authorization in 2024—and as such, will need to comply with this new requirement.
Read more: Planning to Visit Europe in 2024? You Might Need an ETIAS Travel Authorization
With nearly half (43%) of respondents traveling more than five times per year, we can see why travelers are tacking on leisure time to business trips, being inspired by pop culture to visit new destinations, and making plans well into shoulder season. When it comes to travel, getting creative is part of the fun. And staying informed—about weather events, entry requirements, or something else—will help ensure you can enjoy your trips as planned. And keep living your Wildest Dreams.
Methodology: TripIt surveyed more than 1,400 U.S.-based users to understand their past and upcoming travel plans, plus their priorities, preferences, and behaviors regarding travel and travel planning. The survey took place August 14-22, 2023.
