Seeking Safety

In its most recent tracking study of American travellers, Longwoods International reports that “clear safety and cleanliness protocols matter to Americans when considering where to stay on their upcoming trips.”

The study found that lodging properties with cleaning and hygiene programs are sought by 55% of travellers, and mask-wearing requirements and/or social distancing policies are desirable for 47% of those planning their U.S. trips.

Amir Eylon, president and CEO of Longwoods International, said: “We know from our research that to win customers during this pandemic, tourism businesses need to inspire consumer confidence in the safety of visiting their facilities,” said “Travelers will reward lodging properties which demonstrate an aggressive action plan to protect customers from coronavirus exposure.”

According to the most recent survey, the percentage of travellers canceling upcoming trips jumped from 34% on Sept. 9 to 44%. Those modifying their upcoming trips rather than cancel them fell by a commensurate percentage, from 50% on Sept. 9 to 41% in the latest survey. Despite these changes, there is still a strong pent-up demand for travel, with 65% of travellers indicating they are planning a trip in the next six months.

The survey, supported by Miles Partnership, was fielded September 23, 2020 using a national sample randomly drawn from a consumer panel of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and over. Quotas were used to match Census targets for age, gender, and region to make the survey representative of the U. S. population.