Vital value: Maximizing travel for less

The financial strain of the pandemic has been felt by many throughout the world. While travelers may still want to resume traveling as soon as it’s safe, we can expect people to prioritize value, booking transparency, and flexibility now more than ever, with these behaviors predicted to last years.
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Destinations with deals

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With the pandemic impacting job security and financial growth across the globe, travelers are now far more focused on value when booking their trips. More than half (62%) of travelers will be more price-conscious when searching for and planning their next trip, and 55% are more likely to hunt down promotions and savings. Many are looking to the travel industry to offer greater value and better choices in accommodation and transportation options to help meet these evolving traveler needs.
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Slide 1 – I’ll be more price-conscious when it comes to searching and booking my trips.
Slide 2 – I’m more likely than I was before the pandemic to hunt for promotions/savings.
Slide 3 – Booking platforms need to increase their transparency about cancellation policies, refund processes, trip insurance options, etc.
Slide 4 – Accommodation that offers a full refund if travel restrictions are set and accommodation that offers flexibility to change dates without charge.
Slide 5 – I think it’s important to support the travel industry in its recovery efforts, and I want my travel choices to also support destinations’ recovery efforts.
Click the arrows to view responses to the questions
For slides 4 and 5, select your country from the drop-down menu

Looking for flexible travel

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With travel restrictions seemingly changing from one minute to the next, it can be difficult to plan for a trip. As a result, three-quarters (74%) of travelers said they want travel booking platforms to increase transparency about cancellation policies, refund processes, and trip insurance options. Flexibility will also be a priority, with 46% of travelers saying they’ll consider refundable accommodation as a must-have, and 36% will want the flexibility to change the check-in dates without being charged.
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Supporting travel

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While travel may have been hugely impacted this year, it seems that global travelers want to do their part to make sure that the industry stays intact. 70% say they want to support its recovery. The majority of travelers (67%) also want to ensure that their future bookings will help rebuild local communities around the world that have been affected by the pandemic.

Methodology:
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sample of adults who have traveled for business or leisure in the past 12 months, and must be planning to travel in the next 12 months (if/once travel restrictions are lifted). In total 20,934 respondents across 28 countries were polled (including 999 from USA, 496 from Canada, 497 from Mexico, 997 from Colombia, 999 from Brazil, 499 from Argentina, 995 from Australia, 499 from New Zealand, 999 from Spain, 996 from Italy, 996 from France, 999 from UK, 996 from Germany, 498 from Netherlands, 499 from Denmark, 499 from Sweden, 498 from Croatia, 1001 from Russia, 498 from Israel, 997 from India, 994 from China, 499 from Hong Kong, 497 from Thailand, 496 from Singapore, 499 from Taiwan, 997 from South Korea, 500 from Vietnam, and 995 from Japan). Respondents completed an online survey in July 2020.
†Based on the share of filter users who used the “pet-friendly” filter, comparing the average use of the filter across 2019.
‡Based on endorsements left on Booking.com as part of post-stay reviews. Insight based on endorsements that saw the biggest increase in monthly usage between April 1, 2020 and September 11, 2020, compared to the average monthly endorsements between January 2019 and February 2020.
§Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 50,688 respondents across 29 markets. To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 or older, have traveled at least once in the past 12 month, and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online in November 2019.