Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Survey: Consumers feeling safe about travel

Nearly half feel OK to stay in hotels and fly

Survey: Consumers feeling safe about travel

OPTIMISM RISES WITH each COVID-19 vaccine administered, and public confidence in the safety of travel is rising, too, according to a survey from consulting firm Deloitte. More people feel safe flying and staying in hotels, the survey found, and those who have already been vaccinated plan to travel more.

Nearly 30 million vaccine doses have been administered in the U.S., and more than 50 percent of U.S. adults expect to be fully vaccinated in the next six months, according to the latest issue of Deloitte’s “Global State of the Consumer Tracker.” The fact that vaccines are being distributed makes 46 percent of the 1,000 consumers surveyed feel safe to stay in hotels and 34 percent feel safe flying, the highest levels since April.


The percentage is higher for both activities among those who have already been vaccinated, with 70 percent feeling safe staying in a hotel and 54 percent feeling safe flying. Also, 53 percent of the vaccinated plan to spend more on travel over the next month.

“After being virtually homebound for the last year, the vaccine rollout is providing consumers with an increased sense of safety, meaning they are ready to get back on the road and in the air,” said Ramya Murali, principal and U.S. hospitality leader at Deloitte. “Travel intentions across all categories have increased, which should be welcome news for restaurants, hoteliers, airlines and a host of other consumer and hospitality-focused businesses who have been preparing for this shift with increased safety measures to instill confidence for the long-term.”

The survey respondents remained cautious about some activities, even after the pandemic. Deloitte’s report said this could indicate travel spending may not return to pre-pandemic levels any time soon.

Of the respondents, 35 percent said they will eat out less at restaurants than before the pandemic. Also, 37 percent said they will fly less often than before the onset of the pandemic, and 36 percent will have fewer hotel stays. At the same time, 38 percent are expecting to stay in a hotel within the next three months, the highest percentage since the onset of the pandemic, and 30 percent plan on taking a domestic flight in the next quarter, also a pandemic high.

“While this early-spring time period would usually be filled with spring break trips, many upcoming vacations have been canceled, or are in doubt, because of the pandemic. However, consumers are beginning to look post-vaccination,” said Anthony Jackson, principal and U.S. airlines leader at Deloitte. “With pent up travel demand, we expect that many consumers look forward to the ability to travel freely, and responsibly, once again.”

Last week, IHG Hotels & Resorts released a survey that found that many travelers plan to make up for trips they were forced cancel in 2020 because of the pandemic.

More for you

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act Pass Senate in 51–50 Vote

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passes Senate

Summary:

  • U.S. Senate narrowly passes “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.”
  • AAHOA thanks lawmakers, cites tax certainty and flexibility for small business owners.
  • Bill faces tougher path in House amid divisions within Trump’s party.

THE U.S. SENATE on Tuesday narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s flagship legislation, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (H.R. 1), which includes tax breaks and spending cuts the administration says will benefit U.S. citizens. AAHOA backed its final passage in both chambers of Congress, although concerns remain about the inclusion of a remittance tax that could impact Indian Americans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Red Roof partners with FreedomPay to streamline payments in 700+ U.S. hotels
Photo credit: Red Roof

Red Roof taps FreedomPay for 700+ hotels

Summary:

  • Red Roof is contracting with FreedomPay to provide payments across its 700+ U.S. hotels.
  • The company will gain an integrated solution, improved service, cost savings and efficiency.
  • The company is investing in people and technology to advance the brand, president Zack Gharib told Asian Hospitality.

RED ROOF IS contracting with FreedomPay to provide payments across its portfolio of more than 700 hotels in the U.S. The company will receive an integrated payment solution, upgraded service, cost savings and operational efficiency, according to a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gen Z Shifts Hotel Shopping: Tech, Experiences & Values

Survey: Gen Z redefines hotel shopping

Summary:

  • Younger consumers are redefining hotel discovery through platform-hopping and peer input, according to SOCi.
  • Fragmented search and discovery are reshaping how trust is built.
  • About one-third of consumers aged 18–34 report less brand loyalty than a year ago.

GEN Z IS RESHAPING hotel shopping through multiple platforms, peer input and real-time research, according to SOCi, a marketing platform for multi-location businesses. Unlike previous generations who relied on a single search engine or map app, the younger consumer moves through a series of smaller decisions - starting on TikTok, checking Reddit or Yelp and ending with a Google Maps search.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hotel Tech Advances; Outpaces Operational Readiness

Report: Tech outpaces readiness in hotels

  • A gap is growing between technological potential and operational readiness, with many hotel teams still early in AI use.
  • Distribution teams are evolving with limited resources and uneven investment in talent and automation.
  • The report outlines how commercial teams in hospitality are managing transformation.

THERE IS A widening gap between technological potential and operational readiness, with many hotel staff still early in using AI effectively, according to “The State of Distribution 2025” report. Despite the availability of technology, training, systems and workflows remain in development.

The second edition of the industry benchmark report—published by NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and its Hospitality Innovation Hub, in collaboration with RateGain Travel Technologies and HEDNA—noted that as traveler expectations rise, aligning people, processes and platforms is becoming a driver of performance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peachtree Group's Residence Inn by Marriott under construction in downtown San Antonio, topping out milestone reached, June 2025

Peachtree tops out San Antonio Residence Inn

Peachtree Hotel to Open in Summer 2026 with 117 Extended-Stay Rooms

PEACHTREE GROUP HELD a “topping out” for its Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Antonio, Texas, marking completion of the structural phase of the 10-story, 117-room hotel. The property, co-developed with Austin-based Merritt Development Group, is scheduled to open in summer 2026.

The extended-stay hotel will be owned by Peachtree and managed by its hospitality management division, the company said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less