CNN « Sabre

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 7, 2005–Site59, the leader in last-minute travel getaways, polled customers on their travel intentions for the Summer 2005 season. Thousands of responses were compiled from people who traveled between December 13, 2004 and March 5, 2005, revealing trends in booking behavior, favorite summertime destinations and general vacation policies. Site59 found that 89% of surveyed customers are planning to take a leisure vacation this summer, with 38% of them planning more than three trips. The overwhelming majority, 95%, has not booked any travel yet, with half indicating that they will likely book within one month of departure. When asked what will influence their decision, the most popular response was that customers are “waiting to be inspired,” which even outranked “waiting for the best deal.” This summer, travel trends include renewed interest in travel abroad with 19% of customers looking to collect a new stamp on their passport. Thirty-eight percent will travel to the beach, while 17% are planning to head to the mountains, and 14% will visit big cities this summer. Finally, 12% of customers indicate they never go to the same place twice. In addition, people are being given more time off from work, with 73% of customers receiving more than three weeks paid vacation time each year. Interestingly, 40% report unused vacation time, with the majority, 21%, carrying seven or more days over from the previous year. Twenty-eight percent indicated that they thought it would be difficult to take time off at all this summer. “Companies are giving their employees more vacation days, and yet there is a good deal of unused vacation being left on the table each year. For these dedicated workers, Site59’s Last-Minute Getaways are the perfect antidote, because people can re-charge their batteries over a weekend, without taking time off from work,” said Robert Albert, General Manager of Site59. “Or they can travel on a longer Getaway and really de-stress in a place that’s new and interesting.” Further survey findings are available upon request. Providing unrivaled choice and flexibility for travelers who know when and where they want to go–and those who don’t, Site59 offers deeply-discounted Last-Minute Getaways from 14 days up to three hours before departure to hundreds of domestic and international destinations, from more than 150 North American cities. Search by destination and date, and in addition to your choice, you’ll see similar recommendations so you can compare prices all on one page. Or, choose a category like Sun & Beach, and find a destination that fits your budget. With real-time inventory from 3300 hotels, airlines, car rentals, and specialty providers worldwide, Site59 Last-Minute Getaways combine Flight + Hotel (with optional car), Flight + Car, and Hotel + Car, and include optional extras and editor-recommended restaurants and sights–perfect for summer travelers. About SITE59(R) Named for the 59th, or last minute, SITE59(R) is a recognized leader in technology and creative content for last-minute online travel and is owned by Travelocity(R), a Sabre Holdings (NYSE:TSG) company. Beyond accolades and best of web awards from Forbes, CNN, The Wall St. Journal, The NBC Today Show, Readers Digest, PC Magazine, USA Today, The Washington Post, and many more, Site59 is credited with developing the industry’s premier real-time packaging technology. Site59 has a patent-pending system that automates and assembles inventory in real-time from over 3300 industry suppliers–including major airlines, hotel companies, car rental companies, and hundreds of specialty providers worldwide. Additional information and offerings can be viewed at www.Site59.com. CONTACT: PJ Inc. Pamela Johnston, 212-629-8445 Pamela@pjinc.net SOURCE: Site59

CNN

Site59 Survey Reveals Summer Travel Trends; Demand is Strong, Customers Choose Inspiration over Price

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