WEX and Mastercard decode US consumers travelling behaviour

The 2018 Travel Trends Report gauges where consumers are most likely to book travel in 2018 and with whom.

It also presents consumer experience feedback and shares predictions about trends to look for across destinations, planning and booking resources, accommodations and transportation, and spending and payment.

The report includes the following key takeaways:

• Most people report that technology has made it easier to book tickets and make reservations, find the best deals and gather information. Almost 75% of respondents plan to take either the same number or more trips in 2018 as they did in 2017, and 67% typically book travel online.

• When deciding on a booking method, 72% of consumers appreciate ease of booking, offers, promotions and personal recommendations.

• Almost 86% of all travelers consult online travel sources for ideas and information, including review sites (73%), sites that offer package deals (39%) and social media (36%). When it comes to booking, however, 63 and 62% book directly with airlines and hotels, respectively.

• Only 4% of respondents anticipate booking a trip through a travel bot or chat bot in 2018, and only 22% say they’re even aware of the existence of travel bots. Instead of bots, WEX anticipates that the next big thing in travel tech will be booking by voice.

• Almost 93% of respondents will travel within the US in 2018. However, WEX noted increases in international travel activity, with 62% of travelers planning to travel outside of the US in 2018 versus 50% in 2017. The most popular destination outside of North America is Europe, with 29% of respondents planning to travel there (up from 22% in 2017).

Payment options, such as credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets play a significant role in the decision-making process of millennial and Gen X travelers.