As we kick off another summer at Family Getaways, it’s exciting to see strong indications of a great travel season.
A recent survey of American Express Travel Counselors showed that nearly half (45%) of respondents are seeing more summer bookings than last year, and about one-third (30%) said that they are seeing the same number as last year.
In addition, two-thirds (67%) reported that spending on summer travel has increased since last year. According to these counselors, only 20 percent of families feel that “sticking to a budget” is the main concern when booking travel — a good sign that financial fears are truly in the past for consumers.
These responses mirrored a survey of Ensemble member agents. The findings are part of the “Second Annual Ensemble Insights: 2014 Summer Family Travel Survey.”
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The survey revealed that 55 percent of Ensemble members indicated an increase in family travel bookings this summer, compared to only 32 percent last year. Another key finding was that 37 percent of respondents reported that the average spending per booking belonged in the top-tier category of $10,000 to $19,999 per booking, which is up from 27 percent in this cost range last year.
Both surveys reported that cruising is a top choice for families this summer. Cruising has become an especially popular option for multigenerational families as well, according to agents.
That choice makes perfect sense, as you can see in this issue’s feature story, “Value Cruising.”
In fact, this issue of Family Getaways offers stories covering the whole spectrum of popular summer travel. We feature stories on beach vacations, amusement parks, cruises, tours, all-inclusive resorts and domestic and international travel.
As summer travel increases, agents are going to need to stay up to date on all of their options. As always, Family Getaways is ready to help.
