Travel Trends: Last Minute Travel and Micro-Trips

US travelers took more than 1.8 billion vacations in 2018. Historically, travelers have planned and booked their trips more than a month in advance. However, a new study finds that nearly half are now doing so at the last minute. Last-minute travelers (LMTs) are typically defined people who book transportation, lodging, and activities for an overnight leisure trip within 14 days of their vacation. However, survey results show that in reality, most LMTs are actually booking within one week of their vacation. Specifically, 59% of lodging is booked within one week of the LMT’s departure, with some even booking the same day they depart. According to research, factors influencing this shift include access to great last minute travel deals, as well as the fact that today’s millennial travelers are more comfortable with the technology that allows them to quickly and easily plan and book their travel.

It is important to note that the average last-minute traveler spends two to three days on their trip, compared to most non-LMTs who spend five or more days. Speaking of shorter trips, over half of overall travelers - 53% - report that they plan to take more short or weekend trips this year. 2019 will be the year of ‘bite sized travel’ - squeezing in more travel itineraries into shorter time frames. Thanks to improvements in flight routes, cheaper flights, and on-demand ground transportation & accommodation, micro-trips will become increasingly more popular.

Today’s new generation of last-minute travelers represents a significant segment of the overall leisure traveler population. How they book, where they’re going, and how they go about the travel process is different from traditional travelers. It’s important for anyone involved in travel and hospitality today to understand them - how they travel, what they are looking for, and how to reach them.